Singapore extended the visa period of former President Rajapaksa

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been allowed to stay in Singapore for an additional 14 days by the country’s authorities. Two sources related to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday (July 27).

According to reports, Singapore issued a short-term ‘visit pass’ to Rajapaksa, who was on a ‘personal visit’ two weeks ago, which was extended for another 14 days. As a result, Rajapaksa can stay in Singapore until August 11.

Reuters tried to contact Singapore’s immigration and checkpoint authorities for confirmation, but they did not comment.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s former president Gotabaya Rajapakse, who left the country and moved to Singapore, will return home soon,

said Bandula Gunawardhana, the spokesperson of the country’s cabinet. He also claimed that Rajapaksa did not flee the country. News from Times of India.

On July 13, Gotabaya Rajapakse fled the country with his family to the Maldives due to intense anti-government protests in Sri Lanka, which hit  an unprecedented economic crisis.

However, the former President of Sri Lanka did not find shelter there due to the fear of public anger, the next day he crossed to Singapore. Since then he is staying in Singapore.

• However, Gotabaya will return to Sri Lanka soon, said Bandula Gunawardhana, the spokesperson of the country’s cabinet.
• He said this in response to reporters’ questions about Gotabaya after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (July 26).
• Claiming that Gotabaya did not flee the country, Bandula said, “He (Gotabaya Rajapakse) is not under any political asylum.” He is staying in Singapore on a personal visa.

However, Bandula Gunawardhana said that the cabinet does not have any information about when Gotabaya can return to the country.

He said, ‘According to my knowledge, Gotabaya can return to the country. But I have no information about when he will return. But he did not hide or run away.🔱