President contacts Gotabaya about his return

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have contacted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to discuss arrangements for his return to the country, Daily Mirror learns.

This followed a request by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP ) National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa at a recent meeting with the president. 

Basil Rajapaksa called on the president in this regard and asked for the facilitation of early return of the former president who is currently in Thailand after fleeing the country in the face of public protests for his resignation from office on July 9, 2022.

However, he will not return on August 24 despite speculation otherwise. The date of his arrival is not yet confirmed.(Kelum Bandara)