IN politics, the first mistake is one too many. Second chances are rare, though not uncommon. Left without much to choose from, Sri Lanka has given a Rajapaksa yet another shot at the helm.
After a gap of four years, the Rajapaksas are back in power in Sri Lanka. Former Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won the presidential election convincingly over his uninspiring rival and former Minister Sajith Premadasa by about 10 percentage points, was sworn in as President on November 19 in the Anuradhapura Ruwanweliseyapremises, more a symbol of Sinhala pride than the peaceful tenets espoused by Gautama Buddha.
“I am President of not only those who voted for me but also those who voted against me and irrespective of which race or religion they belong to. I am deeply committed to serve all the people of Sri Lanka,” tweeted Gotabaya Rajapaksa on November 17, soon after his victory. The importance of the choice of words “voted against me” was not lost on anyone, especially those who voted for Sajith Premadasa. On the map, this region is demarcated clearly—the north, the east and a bit of the plantation areas. Basically, Tamils.
His brother and former President and the Leader of the Opposition in the current Parliament, Mahinda Rajapaksa, was sworn in as interim Prime Minister on November 21, after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned. Mahinda Rajapaksa will be in charge of Finance, Economic Affairs, Policy Development, Buddha Sasana, Culture, Water Supply and Urban Development Ministries.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s eldest living brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, has been made Minister in charge of Mahaweli Development, Agriculture, Irrigation, Rural Development, InternalTrade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Namal Rajapaksa, is a Member of Parliament.
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