Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday night submitted his resignation shortly after reaching Singapore, the parliamentary speaker’s office said. This comes after the head of state fled protests triggered by his country’s worst-ever economic crisis.

On Wednesday, Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka, after protesters overran his palace on the weekend, heading first to the Maldives and then Singapore.

Also read: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns

The emailed resignation would be examined before a formal announcement – expected on Friday – is made, the speaker’s spokesman Indunil Yapa said.

But what’s next for the now president? There were several reports on Thursday claiming  that Singapore was a transit point and Gotabaya intended to fly from there to Saudi Arabia. Later, reports claimed Singapore was his final destination.

Also read: Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Rise and fall of the former Sri Lankan president

But confusion still prevails over his final destination. Rajapaksa, his wife Ioma and their two bodyguards arrived in Singapore from Male on board a Saudia airline flight.

As president, Rajapaksa enjoyed immunity from arrest, and he is understood to have wanted to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained.

Also read: Who is Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

The former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed is believed to have played a behind-the-scenes role in getting him out of the country, and said Rajapaksa feared he would be killed if he remained.

Singapore’s foreign ministry confirmed Rajapaksa had been allowed to enter the city-state for a “private visit”, adding: “He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum.”

Also read: How will a new Prime Minister be elected in Sri Lanka?

According to Sri Lankan security sources, Rajapaksa is expected to stay in Singapore for some time before potentially moving to the United Arab Emirates.

Diplomatic sources said Rajapaksa’s attempts to secure a visa to the US had been turned down because he had renounced his US citizenship in 2019 before running for president.