The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has said to President Ranil Wickremesinghe that all necessary steps to assess the threat situation and provide former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family with security protection as needed.
President Wickramasinghe had previously said that it would not be desirable for the former president to return at this point
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s return to Sri Lanka is likely in approximately two weeks as he is eager to return as soon as possible due to the high cost of his stay in Thailand, but has been held back by security concerns, Reuters reported, quoting two anonymous sources “familiar with the matter”.“He definitely wants to come back. But security is the main issue, and intelligence has advised that he delay his return,”
However, the former president has not made a request for a safe return or security.
HRCSL Chairperson Rohini Marasinghe has informed the president that the family of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now living aboard, is entitled to the protection of the law to a safe return to the country after a group of loyalist took up the matter with the commission.
The loyalist pointed out that Several complaints were received by the HRCSL alleging that Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had tendered his resignation under threat and coercion, and the government had failed to provide adequate security to Gotabaya Rajapaksa .