On Wednesday, the Indian High Commission in Colombo declined to assist Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the departing president of Sri Lanka, in escaping to the Maldives. The High Commission expressed solidarity for the Sri Lankan people despite the country’s growing political and economic issues, claiming that media accusations that India assisted Rajapaksa in fleeing Sri Lanka were “baseless and speculative.”

“High Commission categorically denies baseless and speculative media reports that India facilitated the recently reported travel of @gotabayar @Realbrajapaksa out of Sri Lanka. It is reiterated that India will continue to support the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values, established democratic institutions and a constitutional framework,” the Indian high commission informed through its Twitter handle.

The High Commission also stated in a series of tweets in other languages as well that it will support Sri Lankans in their efforts to realise their objectives for prosperity and progress through democratic institutions, established democratic ideals, and a constitutional framework. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised to publicly resign as president on Wednesday in order to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife, and other members of his family reportedly left the country earlier on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office. Further information from the Sri Lanka Air Force indicates that the President arrived at Male, the Maldives’ capital, at around three in the morning. A week has passed since the President last left his official house.

President Rajapaksa, his wife, and two bodyguards boarded the military Antonov-32 aircraft that departed from Sri Lanka’s primary international airport last night and travelled to Male. According to reports, the First Family was escorted by police to an undisclosed location after arriving in the Maldives.

According to some prior reports, Rajapaksa departed the nation in a Navy ship about the time when the demonstrators assaulted his palace on July 9. When immigration officials expressed their discontent with allowing the Rajapaksas to pass, the family missed four planes scheduled to take them outside of Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

The President and his family wanted to skip immigration and customs so they wouldn’t have to wait in line with other passengers, but officials at the Colombo International Airport and immigration refused to cooperate.

Eventually, the flights set off without the Rajapaksas. When immigration officers refused to stamp Basil Rajapaksa’s passport, they prevented him from boarding the flight earlier on Tuesday midday after the angry public had held him. Sloganeering followed, and Basil left the airport quickly. He was meant to travel to Dubai in order to board a different flight to Washington, DC.

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