The one who flew from Ratmalana: It’s not Basil but 2 British citizens

Two British citizens who departed the Ratmalana International Airport via a Cessna Citation corporate jet yesterday morning sparked feverish rumours that it was former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa fleeing the country.

Airport sources confirmed, however, that the couple had arrived on March 28 on the same private aircraft and that Mr Rajapaksa was not with them when they left.

He was reportedly admitted to a private hospital on Friday with COVID-19 but it was widely speculated that he would be airlifted via air ambulance to another country under the cover of the affliction as a means of leaving Sri Lankan shores safely.

His media officer confirmed however that as of yesterday morning Mr Rajapaksa was still warded.