Sri Lanka's president Gotabaya flees to Maldives, ahead of resignation today

Sri Lanka's under-fire president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives in an army aircraft ahead of his resignation today.

He was received by a Maldivian government representative at the Velana airport.

The country is under the grip of an unprecedented economic turmoil, the worst in seven decades, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essentials.

The Rajapaksa clan has been facing a public revolt for mishandling the economy.

Earlier, Basil, Sri Lanka's former finance minister and younger brother of Gotabaya, was turned back at Colombo, as he attempted to leave the country through the VIP terminal.

Basil, a US passport holder, resigned as finance minister in early April as street protests intensified against shortages of fuel, food and other necessities and quit his seat in parliament in June.

With Gotabaya's resignation due today, Sri Lanka's political parties initiated steps to form an all-party government and subsequently elect a new president on July 20 to prevent the bankrupt nation sliding further into distress.

Gotabaya has officially conveyed to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will resign on July 13 as previously announced, days after protesters stormed both leaders' homes in rage over the government's mishandling of the country's worst economic crisis.

Parties have begun campaigning for the support of possible candidates. The main opposition SJB said they will campaign for the appointment of Sajith Premadasa as the interim president.

Premadasa said that Sri Lanka's main opposition the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) was ready to lead the country at the presidential and prime ministerial level and develop the economy.

Premadasa said his party is ready to lead a programme aimed at bringing stability to the country.