Sri Lanka’s besieged president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly left the Maldives, where he fled to earlier this week and is currently on his way to Singapore.

According to the Associated Press, the war crimes accused president will then fly to Saudi Arabia, from Singapore.

Reports from Maldivian journalists suggest that Rajapaksa and his wife are on Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV788 from Male to Singapore. He will land in Singapore shortly before 7PM local time.

Amidst excessive efforts of the Sri Lankan state to suppress the work of journalists in the northeast, journalists of the Mullaitivu Press Club, Tamil university students, and Tamil journalists in Batticaloa protested to condemn the suppression of media and the recent attacks on journalists by Sri Lankan security forces in the south. 

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stressed that the “developments in Sri Lanka are its internal affair.”

The statement comes in response to an escalating political crisis. Acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, imposed a state of emergency and curfew in an attempt to curtail protests. Wickremesinghe has also ordered the military to do whatever is necessary to restore order.

Numerous countries have expressed concern regarding recent developments, emphasizing the importance of respecting human rights and the rule of law.

Sri Lanka’s fleeing president Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a gazette stating he is “unable to exercise, perform and discharge” his duties as president, and that he appoints prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president.

In a gazette issued from the Maldives, where he is currently staying after having fled Sri Lanka last night, Rajapaksa said he was “unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of the Office of the President by reason of my absence” and that he appoints Wickremesinghe under Article 37 (1) of Sri Lanka’s constitution.

Outgoing Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will submit his resignation letter to Sri Lankan parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena after arriving in Singapore. 

Singapore is set to grant asylum to Rajapaksa, the Indian television channel Republic TV reported. 

The genocidaire fled the country after a mass uprising in the capital Colombo on July 09 and appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe as acting president.  

The accused war criminal is currently staying at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafush in the Maldives after he fled Sri Lanka in a military aircraft. 

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called for a peaceful political transition in Sri Lanka, they have emphasized the need for an inclusive process that respects the rule of law.

The crisis in Sri Lanka continues to escalate as protesters marched into the Prime Minister’s office earlier today.

Acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has imposed a state of emergency and a curfew. Wickremesinghe has also ordered the military to do whatever is necessary to restore order on the island, accusing protesters of fascism.

As Colombo descends into crisis, British parliament held an urgent debate on the state of Sri Lanka with growing calls for a new pluralist constitution, the recognition of self-determination for Tamils, the ratification of the Rome Statute, the arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and justice for the Tamil genocide.

Sri Lanka’s former army chief has issued a call to the military, asking them not to follow orders from acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe and instead "raise your weapons against corrupt politicians".

In a Facebook post alongside a photograph of himself in full military uniform, Fonseka called on “law abiding disciplined patriotic war heroes” in the military to “refrain from following the unconstitutional orders given by Ranil Wickremesinghe”.

Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused Chief of Defence Staff, Shavendra Silva has urged the Speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament to convene an urgent meeting of party leaders to resolve the turmoil gripping the country.