Male, Maldives:
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape on Wednesday faced protests in the Maldives, with dozens of compatriots urging Male not to offer him a safe haven.
Sri Lankan expatriates carrying flags and placards denounced Rajapaksa, who fled his country on Wednesday after protesters flooded his residence in Colombo over the weekend amid the worsening economic crisis in the island.
“Dear Maldivian friends, urge your government not to protect criminals,” said a black and white banner held by Sri Lankans working in the island’s small capital.
Local media showed unverified videos of residents shouting insults at Rajapaksa as he exited Velana International Airport after arriving on a military plane.
As Sri Lankans protested on an artificial beach in Male on Wednesday, Special Operations police confiscated signs and dispersed the protesters, witnesses said.
Local reports suggested Rajapaksa was staying at an exclusive resort and would leave for the United Arab Emirates or Singapore later Wednesday.
“He goes into exile in one of the two locations,” said a Sri Lankan security source in Colombo. “Ensuring security would be a challenge as there are communities in both Sri Lankan.”
The main opposition party of the Progressive Party of the Maldives has opposed granting free passage to Rajapaksa, who faces several lawsuits, including charges of war crimes.
“We are betraying our friends in Sri Lanka by accepting Rajapaksa, a hated figure in that country,” a PPM leader told AFP.
The two countries have close ties and a significant Maldivian community resides on the larger island, while a significant number of Sri Lankans work in education, healthcare and hospitality in the Maldives.
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