The former leader’s visit pass has been prolonged, as he remains in Singapore following his departure from Sri Lanka.
Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has had his short-term visit pass extended by an additional 14 days, as reported by The Straits Times.
Rajapaksa, who fled Sri Lanka amidst widespread protests on July 13, arrived in Singapore via the Maldives on July 14. At the time, he was still in office but resigned by email the following day, on July 15. His resignation led to the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe, his former Prime Minister, as his successor.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore clarified that Rajapaksa had entered the country for a private visit and did not seek, nor was granted, asylum. In an earlier report, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority confirmed that Rajapaksa initially received a 14-day short-term visit pass (STVP), whereas most visitors from Sri Lanka are typically granted 30-day STVPs. His stay has now been extended for another 14 days.
Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka after large-scale protests on July 9 led demonstrators to invade the presidential residence and offices, protesting against the government’s handling of the country’s severe economic crisis, which caused critical shortages in fuel and food supplies.
The extension comes amid statements from Sri Lanka’s cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena, who mentioned on July 26 that Rajapaksa may return to Sri Lanka soon, although he could not confirm the exact date. Gunawardena emphasised that Rajapaksa was not in exile or hiding, but was eager to return to his private residence in Colombo.
In a separate development, the International Truth and Justice Project, a human rights organisation, has filed a criminal complaint against Rajapaksa with Singapore’s Attorney General. The complaint alleges that Rajapaksa committed serious breaches of the Geneva Conventions during the 2009 civil war when he served as Sri Lanka’s defence secretary. The group is calling for his arrest, arguing that these crimes fall under universal jurisdiction, allowing them to be prosecuted in Singapore. The Attorney General’s office acknowledged receipt of the complaint but has not commented further.
