THAI Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said this afternoon (August 10) that Sri Lanka’s ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, could come and stay in Thailand for no more than 90 days because he holds a diplomatic passport supported by the government of a country that has friendly relations with Thailand, Matichon newspaper said.
He was questioned about foreign news agencies reporting earlier today that Rajapaksa is expected to leave Singapore and arrive in Thailand tomorrow (August 11).
Don said the Foriegn Ministry did not see any problems with Rajapaksa coming to Thailand by using the passport he currently holds as this is in accordance with Thailand’s rules.
However the one issue about his coming here is the reaction of the Sri Lankan people as they had mounted huge protests over their country’s worst economic crisis in seven decades leading to the former president fleeing to Singapore via Maldives on July 14.
As to where Rajapasksa will stay while in Thailand, Don said this depends on how he arranges it and Thailand has not stated where this could be. He could stay at a hotel or rent an apartment or a house.
Asked whether Thailand could deny Rajapaksa entry, Don said as this is our country we could do so but after considering the overall situation and seeing that his entry does not cause a problem he could come here.
Asked if allowing Rajapaksa to stay temporarily in Thailand would create a conflict with Sri Lanka, Don pointed out that the Sri Lankan government supports his coming here with his successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, being the prime minister when the former was president.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Thai Foriegn Minister Don Pramudwinai, left, and ousted Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, right. Photo: Matichon
Front Page: Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa presents his national statement during the World Leaders’ Summit at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 2021. File photo: Andy Buchanan/Pool via Reuters and published by CNA
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