Sri Lanka's president left the country on a flight, according to a security official

Protesters sing and cook at the Prime Minister's home in Sri Lanka 0:56

(CNN) --

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife have flown out of the country to the Maldivian capital Male, a senior security official said Tuesday.

Rajapaksa seized a Sri Lankan Air Force AN32 troop carrier.

A source told CNN that air traffic control in the Maldives had refused to land the plane, but later granted the request after Maldivian Parliament Speaker Majlis and former President Mohamed Nasheed intervened.

When asked about Rajapaksa, Nasheed told CNN on Monday that he "hasn't been in contact with Rajapaksa for weeks."