Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa blocked at airport as he tries to flee

It is believed Gotabaya Rajapaksa wanted to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained

A demonstrator presents Sri Lanka's new 'Wildlife Minister' at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Cabinet meeting room in Colombo. Huge crowds had poured into the city to protest in previous days amid months of unrest sparked by the country's economic collapse. Reuters

Demonstrators take a break inside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's residence in Colombo. Reuters

Children play the piano inside the president's house in Colombo. Reuters

A demonstrator poses for photographs where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa used to hold events. Reuters

People wait to visit the presidential residence in Colombo after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled amid the country's economic turmoil. Reuters

Part of the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was burnt by demonstrators. Reuters

Demonstrators vandalised part of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's house in Colombo. Reuters

Crowds flock to take a look inside the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA

Part of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence was burnt by demonstrators. Reuters

People take a dip in a swimming pool at the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA

Protesters pretend to hold a Cabinet meeting in the meeting hall of the president's official residence. AP

Firefighters try to douse a fire at the residence of Sri Lanka's prime minister during protests in Colombo. AFP

People watch the blaze. AFP

An unidentified man poses for pictures while seated on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s chair at the presidential palace in Colombo, a day after it was overrun by anti-government protestors. AFP

Protesters rest on sofas in the prime minister's residence. AP

Soldiers and police gather outside the burnt private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo. AP

A security officer inspects a police vehicle, a day after it was vandalised by protesters in front of the residence of Sri Lanka's prime minister. AFP

Protesters stand on a vandalised police water cannon at the entrance to the president's official residence. AP

Protesters sing and dance after storming the Sri Lankan president's official residence. AP

Protesters crowd inside the president's official residence. EPA

Protesters cheer inside the president's official residence. EPA

A man picks up a tear-gas canister to throw it away as police try to disperse protesters in Colombo. AP

An injured protester during an anti-government demonstration in Colombo. EPA

The security forces fire tear gas and use water cannon to disperse an anti-government protest. EPA

A protester walks in front of police during an anti-government protest, calling for the resignation of the president over his alleged failure to address Sri Lanka's economic crisis. EPA

Protesters gather inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo. AFP

Protesters are demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns. AP Photo

Hundreds of people attended the rally. EPA

Security forces fire tear gas to disperse an anti government protest rally. EPA

Protesters throw back tear gas canisters fired by security forces. EPA

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has endured in a humiliating standoff with airport immigration staff blocking his exit to safety abroad, official sources said on Tuesday.

Mr Rajapaksa and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main international airport, officials said.

He has promised to resign on Wednesday and clear the way for a "peaceful transition of power" — but became stuck in his own country on Tuesday after an attempt to flee.

It followed widespread protests against him over the country's unprecedented economic crisis.

The 73-year-old leader fled his official residence in Colombo just before tens of thousands of protesters overran it on Saturday, officials said.

As president, Mr Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest. It is believed he wanted to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained.

But immigration officers were refusing to go to the VIP suite to stamp his passport, while he insisted he would not go through the public facilities, fearing reprisals from other airport users.

Mr Rajapaksa's youngest brother, Basil — who resigned in April as finance minister — missed his flight early on Tuesday after a similar standoff with airport staff.

Basil Rajapaksa tried to use the paid concierge service for business travellers, but airport and immigration staff said they were withdrawing from the fast-track service with immediate effect.

"There were some other passengers who protested against Basil boarding their flight," an airport official told AFP. "It was a tense situation, so he hurriedly left the airport."

Basil, a US dual citizen, had to obtain a new passport after leaving his behind at the presidential palace when the Rajapaksas left to avoid mobs on Saturday, a diplomatic source said.

Official sources said a suitcase full of documents had also been left behind at the stately mansion along with 17.85 million rupees ($50,000) in cash, now in the custody of a Colombo court.

There was no official word from the president's office about his whereabouts, but he remained commander-in-chief of the armed forces with military resources at his disposal.

One option still open to him would be to take a navy vessel to either India or the Maldives, a defence source said.

If Mr Rajapaksa steps down as promised, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will automatically become acting president until Parliament elects an MP to serve out the presidential term, which ends in November 2024.

Mr Rajapaksa is accused of mismanaging the economy to a point where the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports, leading to severe hardships for its 22 million population.

Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in April and is in talks with the IMF about a possible bailout.

The island has nearly exhausted its already scarce supplies of petrol. The government has ordered the closure of non-essential offices and schools to reduce commuting and save fuel.