COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) ruled on August 23 that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country in July amid the unrest triggered by the ongoing economic crisis, should be permitted to return to the country.
Writing to appeal President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the HRCSL said that Rajapaksa is eligible for certain privileges and benefits under the law and the government should take necessary steps so as to make certain his security to return. The government should take all necessary measures to evaluate the threat situation and grant Rajapaksa and his family access to return whenever he desires, according to the Commission, which was led by a retired Supreme Court judge.
Rajapaksa announced his resignation on July 9 and left the country on July 13 as a result of the three-month street unrest brought on by the economic crisis that caused severe shortages of food, fuel, power, and cooking gas. He first went to the Maldives and then to Singapore. Rajapaksa and his wife were granted entry into Thailand, where he presently resides, at the request of the Sri Lankan government.
Rajapaksa, a former dual citizen of the US and Sri Lanka, was denied a visa by Washington because he had to renounce his citizenship before the 2019 presidential election.
According to Sri Lankan electoral law, foreigners are not allowed to run for president.
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