Sri Lanka President says it’s not right time for Rajapaksa to return after fleeing country – WSJ
2022.07.31 22:05
FILE PHOTO – Ranil Wickremesinghe who has been elected as the Eighth Executive President under the Constitution speaks to media as he leaves a Buddhist temple, amid the country’s economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka July 20, 2022. REUTERS/ Dinuka Liyana
(Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s new president Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday it was not the right time for former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return to the country as it could inflame political tensions, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“I don’t believe it’s the time for him to return,” Wickremesinghe said in an interview with the Journal. “I have no indication of him returning soon.”
Wickremesinghe has remained in contact with Rajapaksa to deal with administrative handover issues and other government business, the report said.