Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to seek a 14-day visa extension from Singaporean authorities, according to reports.
Rajapaksa received a 14-day visa extension from Singaporean authorities last month after the initial visit visa period expired, and the extension period is set to expire this week (August 11).
When asked if the Sri Lankan authorities would intervene to get the former President another 14-day extension, a senior government official told no official request for government intervention had been made.
However, the official stated that the authorities had made an unofficial request on behalf of the former President to secure another extension. “The Prime Minister’s Office is looking into the matter,” the official said.
Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore on July 14 from the Maldives, having fled Sri Lanka on July 13 following mass protests that ousted him from office on July 9.
On arrival, he was given a 14-day stay visa, which Singapore extended for another 14 days at the end of July.
The media speculated that the former President would return to Sri Lanka on Thursday (11), when his extended visa period expires.