President’s resignation delayed as political suspense continues

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has left for Singapore a short while ago, Maldivian media reported.

Rajapaksa who avoided two Singapore-bound flights since yesterday is reported to have left today in a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV788 heading to Singapore, reports from the Maldives said.

Another Maldivian journalist said President Rajapaksa was escorted by special forces of the Maldives Defence Force. 

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country is yet to submit his resignation letter as promised to the Speaker of Parliament as the political suspense continued.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today said he had not received the resignation letter from the President though it was due by Wednesday night.

Last night’s clashes between security forces and protesters near the Parliament left 42 injured, Police said.

A T-56 automatic rifle of a soldier and 60 rounds of ammunition had been seized by the protesters in the clashes near Parliament where protesters remained after midnight. A complaint has been lodged at the Borella police.

A curfew which was effective until 5.00 has been lifted without other major incidents and no fresh protests. Still, there was a possibility that a curfew will be imposed in the Colombo district.

Protesters continued occupying the President’s official residence, his office, the Prime Minister's official residence and his office.