Explained: How Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape has put Maldives in an awkward position

‘Go home Gota’ and ‘Don’t safeguard criminals’ banners dotted the streets of Maldivian capital, Male, as fleeing Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa made his way to neighbouring island nation.

On a day when he was to announce his resignation, reports emerged in the morning that Rajapaksa had fled his nation — struggling from an acute economic crisis — on a military jet and flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials.

The Sri Lankan president has been in hiding after crowds stormed his residence on Saturday, and had pledged to resign on Wednesday.

Escape to Maldives

Facing angry protests demanding his resignations, the 73-year-old Sri Lankan president escaped to Maldives on Wednesday morning and according to reports was taken to a resort after landing in Male in the early hours.

His journey to Maldives had come after a previous attempt to fly to the United States had failed after he couldn't get a visa. Other reports had said he was thwarted at the airport while trying to leave for a country in the Middle East.

News agency PTI reported that his escape to the island chain south-west of Sri Lanka was negotiated by the Maldivian Majlis (Parliament) Speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed. The two leaders reportedly share a close friendship — when Nasheed was ousted from power in 2012, he spent long years in self-exile in Sri Lanka where Rajapaksa was the president.

Nasheed’s ties with Sri Lanka date back to his childhood; he studied in Colombo.

And just two months ago, Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had granted Nasheed’s request to be appointed “coordinator” of Male’s relief efforts for Colombo.

When faced with questions about Rajapaksa’s presence in Maldives, the government argued that he was still the President of Sri Lanka, and that he hadn’t resigned or handed over his powers to a successor. Therefore, if he wanted to travel to the Maldives, it could not have been denied, sources said.

His run from Sri Lanka led to even bigger chaos in Colombo on Wednesday with protesters storming Prime Minister, and now acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office compound. The crowd roared its support for the people charging in and tossed water bottles to them.

The Associated Press reported that police initially used tear gas to try to disperse the protesters outside the prime minister’s office but failed, and more and more marched down the lane toward the compound. As helicopters flew overhead, some demonstrators held up their middle fingers.

Eventually security forces appeared to give up, with some retreating from the area and others simply standing around the overrun compound. Inside the building, the mood was celebratory, as people sprawled on elegant sofas, watched TV and held mock meetings in wood-panelled conference rooms. Some wandered around as if touring a museum.

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Anger in Maldives

However, the decision to allow Rajapaksa in Maldives led to protests there too, with some urging the Maldivian government to stop providing a haven to the fleeing president.

Sri Lankan expatriates carrying flags and placards denounced Rajapaksa.

Images started emerging on social media of people protesting in Maldives, with one showing a banner that read ‘Dear Maldivian friends, please urge your government not to safeguard criminals.’

Local media carried unverified videos of residents shouting insults at Rajapaksa as he walked out of the Velana International airport following his arrival on a military aircraft.

Happening now: Sri Lankans protesting in the Madives #SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis #SriLankaProtests @SriLankaTweet @Jamz5251 https://t.co/qAsvlPykKz pic.twitter.com/XRrah9kNAu

— Heena Waleed