The Sri Lankan army warned that troops were “legitimately empowered to exercise their force,” after it claimed two rifles were snatched from soldiers by protestors on Wednesday.

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.

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.”

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.

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 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.

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".

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.

Sri Lanka's embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is reportedly staying at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafush in the Maldives, after he fled Sri Lanka late last night in a military aircraft. 

As violence breaks out across Colombo, acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has defended the imposition of a state of emergency, accusing the protesters of resorting to fascism.

Reports have emerged that Gotabaya Rajapaksa who landed in the Maldives yesterday, will now board a flight to Singapore this evening after claiming asylum. 

Maldivian-based news outlet gaafu, reported that the accused war criminal will depart through a Singapore Airlines flight SQ437 which is set to leave in over 8 hours.