Sri Lanka crisis update: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa heading to Saudi Arabia via Singapore

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled Sri Lanka with his wife on Wednesday, is heading to Singapore after spending a day in Male, reported sources.

Rajapaksa has departed from the Maldives on Saudi Airline flight SV 788 to Singapore, sources said.

Gotabaya appointed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President.

He was expected to send his resignation letter to the Speaker by July 13 night, but has failed to do that. Meanwhile, the government has imposed a curfew in the Colombo district from 12 noon on July 14 to 5 am on July 15 after protesters stormed the PM's office on Wednesday, calling for his resignation.

Parliament is expected to name a new full-time president next week, and a top ruling party source told Reuters Wickremesinghe was the party's first choice.

Meanwhile, at least 45 people were hospitalised following a standoff between the police and protesters who had stormed Rajapaksa-ally Wickremesinghe's office.

Local media said a 26-year-old protester who was hospitalised after being tear-gassed died of breathing difficulties, reported Reuters.