Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Thailand Thursday evening following a month-long stay in Singapore where he had taken refuge after fleeing the island nation due to massive protests against economic crisis in the country, reported news agency AFP. He is seeking temporary shelter in Thailand, which is the second Southeast Asian country to grant him temporary refuge.
The ousted leader landed on a private jet at Don Mueang International Airport around 8pm local time (1200 GMT), reported AFP, citing a senior Thai official.
"The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirms that Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore on 11 August," Singapore's immigration office said, as reported by the news agency.
Gotabaya arrived in Thailand after nearly a month's stay in Singapore. The former Sri Lankan president was issued a 14-day visit pass by the Singapore government on arrival at the airport from Maldives last month. He was later allowed to stay in the country for two more weeks.
Meanwhile, Thailand denied reports of the former Sri Lankan President seeking asylum in the country. Clarifying on the issue, the Thailand Foreign Ministry said it received a request from Rajapaksa to visit the country without any intention of seeking political refuge.
"Thailand saw no problem with Rajapaksa entering on a diplomatic passport, which would allow him to stay 90 days," said Thailand Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat to Daily Mirror, as reported by ANI.
After arriving in Singapore from Maldives on July 14, Gotabaya tendered his resignation, which was officially confirmed by the Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on July 15. After Gotabaya's resignation, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as President of Sri Lanka on July 21 in Parliament.
Wickremesinghe was appointed as interim president of Sri Lanka after Rajapaksa fled the island nation amid massive protests over shortages of food, fuel and medicine endured by Sri Lanka's 22 million people over the last one year.