Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was ousted from power following months of protest has reportedly left for the United States with family, according to a report. This is Rajapaksa's first foreign trip since returning to Sri Lanka more than 3 months ago. Watch to know more.

Sri Lanka's ousted ex-president Rajapaksa, family leaves for U.S.: Reports

<p>Sri Lankan parliament was convened on Saturday where the resignation of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was read. In the letter, he defended himself and listed the reasons why the island country plunged into one of its worst economic crises.</p>

<p>&nbsp;“I served my motherland to the best of my ability, and I will continue to do so in the future,” he said in his letter, which was read aloud by Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament.</p>

<p>The 73-year-old Sri Lankan leader said that the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown choked Sri Lanka’s economy, according to PTI news agency.</p>

<p>He said that he tried to take the appropriate steps to salvage the country by forming an all-party government to counter the economic meltdown.</p>

<p>“I took action to protect people from the pandemic despite being constrained by the already poor economic environment that prevailed at the time,” he said.</p>

<p>“During 2020 and 2021 I was compelled to order lockdowns and the foreign exchange situation deteriorated. In my view, I took the best course of action by suggesting an all-party or a national government to tackle the situation,” Rajapaksa said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Secretary-General of Parliament reads the letter of resignation by <a href="https://twitter.com/GotabayaR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GotabayaR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SriLanka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SriLanka</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lka</a> <a href="https://t.co/OIPJyqbEez">pic.twitter.com/OIPJyqbEez</a></p>
— Kalani Kumarasinghe (@KalaniWrites) <a href="https://twitter.com/KalaniWrites/status/1548169464608219139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>“I decided to resign as you indicated to me on July 9 the wish of the party leaders,” he said in the letter.</p>

<p>“I resign with effect from July 14,” the letter read.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, former Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa have been barred by the Supreme Court to leave the country without permission until July 28, anti-corruption group Transparency International Sri Lanka said.</p>

<p>The top court’s decision follows days after their brother and former president Gotabya Rajapaksa fled the country as the protests intensified seeking his resignation.</p>

<p>The anti-corruption group in a tweet further said that three other former officials, including two former central bank governors, also cannot travel outside the country without the court's permission till July 28, the group said in a tweet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Sri Lankan parliament was convened on Saturday where the resignation of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was read. In the letter, he defended himself and listed the reasons why the island country plunged into one of its worst economic crises.

Sri Lankan parliament was convened on Saturday where the resignation of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was read. In the letter, he defended himself and listed the reasons why the island country plunged into one of its worst economic crises. “I served my motherland to the best of my ability, and I will continue to do so in the future,” he said in his letter, which was read aloud by Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament. The 73-year-old Sri Lankan leader said that the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown choked Sri Lanka’s economy, according to PTI news agency. He said that he tried to take the appropriate steps to salvage the country by forming an all-party government to counter the economic meltdown. “I took action to protect people from the pandemic despite being constrained by the already poor economic environment that prevailed at the time,” he said. “During 2020 and 2021 I was compelled to order lockdowns and the foreign exchange situation deteriorated. In my view, I took the best course of action by suggesting an all-party or a national government to tackle the situation,” Rajapaksa said. Secretary-General of Parliament reads the letter of resignation by @GotabayaR #SriLanka #lka pic.twitter.com/OIPJyqbEez — Kalani Kumarasinghe (@KalaniWrites) July 16, 2022 × “I decided to resign as you indicated to me on July 9 the wish of the party leaders,” he said in the letter. “I resign with effect from July 14,” the letter read. Meanwhile, former Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa have been barred by the Supreme Court to leave the country without permission until July 28, anti-corruption group Transparency International Sri Lanka said. The top court’s decision follows days after their brother and former president Gotabya Rajapaksa fled the country as the protests intensified seeking his resignation. The anti-corruption group in a tweet further said that three other former officials, including two former central bank governors, also cannot travel outside the country without the court's permission till July 28, the group said in a tweet. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa defends himself

Parliament has received letter of resignation from Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. While Maldivian president confirmed the resignation, the authenticity of letter is under review.

Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa submits letter of resignation

<p>Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, fled to the Maldives, where he named Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. This escalated the political crisis and set off a new round of protests in the nation, which is currently experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades.&nbsp;During the protests, a couple was seen kissing in public after participating in anti-government demonstrations that resulted in the Prime Minister's office being taken over in Colombo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NewsWire shared this picture on Twitter with the this captions:&nbsp;"Couple goals! A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Couple goals!<br />
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A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo. <a href="https://t.co/mpPG1y2fvD">pic.twitter.com/mpPG1y2fvD</a></p>
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsWireLK/status/1547166536913207296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Invoking Article 37(1) of the Constitution, which permits a prime minister to "discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of president" when the president is "ill" or "absent" from the country, Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had pledged to step down on Wednesday, named Prime Minister Wickremesinghe as the acting president.</p>

<p>President Rajapaksa has appointed Wickremesinghe to act in the president's place while he is away from home, according to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Abeywardena added that President Rajapaksa had telephoned him to let him know that he would leave office today as planned.</p>

<p>He said that July 20 will be the election day for the incoming president. As demonstrators gathered close to Wickremesinghe's office on Flower Road in Colombo, the country's acting president, announced a state of emergency and enforced a curfew in the Western province.</p>

<p>According to Wickremesinghe, in order to restore normalcy, he has directed the security forces to uphold the emergency and curfew. He added that a committee made up of the leaders of the armed forces has been granted the authority to do this without any political interference. In addition, he promised to resign as prime minister once an all-party coalition was established.</p>

<p>Anti-government protestors, however, were incensed by the event and demanded the resignation of both the President and Prime Minister for handling the economy poorly. Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the PM Office building while waving flags of Sri Lanka, defying the state of emergency. When protesters invaded the prime minister's office and climbed over a barricade to demand his resignation, the police opened fire with tear gas.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, fled to the Maldives, where he named Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. This escalated the political crisis and set off a new round of protests in the nation, which is currently experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, fled to the Maldives, where he named Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. This escalated the political crisis and set off a new round of protests in the nation, which is currently experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades. During the protests, a couple was seen kissing in public after participating in anti-government demonstrations that resulted in the Prime Minister's office being taken over in Colombo. NewsWire shared this picture on Twitter with the this captions: "Couple goals! A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo." Couple goals! A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo. pic.twitter.com/mpPG1y2fvD — NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) July 13, 2022 × Invoking Article 37(1) of the Constitution, which permits a prime minister to "discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of president" when the president is "ill" or "absent" from the country, Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had pledged to step down on Wednesday, named Prime Minister Wickremesinghe as the acting president. President Rajapaksa has appointed Wickremesinghe to act in the president's place while he is away from home, according to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Abeywardena added that President Rajapaksa had telephoned him to let him know that he would leave office today as planned. He said that July 20 will be the election day for the incoming president. As demonstrators gathered close to Wickremesinghe's office on Flower Road in Colombo, the country's acting president, announced a state of emergency and enforced a curfew in the Western province. According to Wickremesinghe, in order to restore normalcy, he has directed the security forces to uphold the emergency and curfew. He added that a committee made up of the leaders of the armed forces has been granted the authority to do this without any political interference. In addition, he promised to resign as prime minister once an all-party coalition was established. Anti-government protestors, however, were incensed by the event and demanded the resignation of both the President and Prime Minister for handling the economy poorly. Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the PM Office building while waving flags of Sri Lanka, defying the state of emergency. When protesters invaded the prime minister's office and climbed over a barricade to demand his resignation, the police opened fire with tear gas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka crisis: During protests, a picture of a couple kissing goes viral

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in Sri Lanka for the second time since April. The Lankan government issued a statement justifying the move as President Rajapaksa faced immense criticism from the Opposition and Foreign envoys for his decision.

Sri Lanka Crisis : Western Diplomats urge Sri Lanka to repeal state of emergency

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in Sri Lanka for the second time since April. The Lankan government justified the move by saying that it was very much required to tackle the worsening economic meltdown. However, Lankans defy emergency to hold protests in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Crisis: Government defends imposition of emergency amid flak from Opposition

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in Sri Lanka for the second time since April. The Lankan government issued a statement justifying the move as President Rajapaksa faced immense criticism for his decision. However, Lankans defy emergency to hold protests in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Political Crisis: Sri Lankans defy emergency, stage protests in Colombo