Gotabaya not accorded any privileges, immunity or hospitality by Singapore
SINGAPORE – Former Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not accorded any privileges, immunity or hospitality by the Singapore Government, said Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (Aug 1).
In a written answer to a parliamentary question from MP Gerald Giam (WP-Aljunied) about Rajapaksa’s arrival in Singapore, Dr Balakrishnan said: “In general, the Singapore government does not accord privileges, immunity and hospitality to former heads of state or heads of government.
“Consequently, former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not accorded any privileges, immunity or hospitality.”
Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore on a “private visit” on Jul 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said previously. It is understood that he has obtained a 14-day extension of his short-term visit pass, which means he can stay in Singapore until Aug 11.
He was ousted from office over his country’s economic crisis and fled to the Maldives before coming to Singapore.
A Sri Lankan Cabinet spokesperson said last week that the former president was not in hiding and would be treated in accordance with his status as a former president upon his return to Sri Lanka.
He resigned as president shortly after arriving in Singapore, and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president about a week later.
– channelnewsasia.com