SINGAPORE: Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore on Thursday (Aug 11) after entering the country about a month ago on a short-term visit pass.
“The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirms that Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore on Aug 11, 2022,” said the agency in response to media queries.
Mr Rajapaksa’s short-term visit pass was due to expire on Thursday.
He was initially given a 14-day pass when he arrived in Singapore on Jul 14. This was later extended by another 14 days until Aug 11.
Mr Rajapaksa, who fled Sri Lanka amid mass protests over his country’s worst economic crisis, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday.
Thai authorities said he has no intention of seeking political asylum and would only stay temporarily.
“This is a humanitarian issue and there is an agreement that it’s a temporary stay,” Prime Minister Prayuth Prayut Chan-o-cha told reporters on Wednesday.