Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Next Stop: Thailand
The ex‑president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to land in Thailand on Thursday (August 11), after slipping out of the island two months ago amid a wave of protests that saw thousands storming his official residence. Two anonymous sources told Reuters that the 73‑year‑old is taking a detour from Singapore to Bangkok, looking for a brief haven in a second Southeast Asian nation.
Quick Recap of the Ex‑President’s Escape
- July 14 – Rajapaksa flees Sri Lanka via the Maldives and heads straight to Singapore.
- He cuts ties with the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan head of state to resign mid‑term.
- Singapore declares he has no special protection or immunity.
Since leaving, he’s been a ghost story—no public appearances, no comment. The Thai government, polite as always, declined to comment.
Who Is Rajapaksa, Anyway?
Rajapaksa, a former military officer turned defense secretary, was in charge of the final push that toppled the Tamil Tigers in 2009. Fast‑forward, he’s now clinging to a life that’s got critics dumping war‑crime allegations and economic blame‑games on him.
Family Ties That Keep the Spotlight On
- Mahinda Rajapaksa – Former president and prime minister.
- Basil Rajapaksa – Once the finance minister until early this year.
- They’re a political dynasty that the country’s economy was once accused of mishandling.
After the riots, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made it clear that Rajapaksa isn’t invited back anytime soon:
“I don’t believe it’s the time for him to return,” Wickremesinghe told the Wall Street Journal on July 31. “I have no indication of him returning soon.”
Should the former president ever make the return trip, legal experts warn that any pending charges might strip him of protection.
