CENTRE CANNOT HOLD

With economic woes denting the popularity of the Rajapaksas, Sri Lanka might look at a political alternative in the next polls

- LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN

SOMETIME BETWEEN 2004 and 2005, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was the prime minister of Sri Lanka during president Chandrika Kumaratunga’s term, Sinhalese astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena predicted that the Rajapaksa family would rule the island for the next 50 years. He foretold Mahinda that his brothers would rule after him, followed by his children. But Abeygunawardena failed to predict the economic crisis that has made the Rajapaksa clan unpopular.

When Gotabaya Rajapaksa took oath as president in 2019 at an ancient temple built by Sinhalese King Dutugemenu—who is best known for defeating an invading Chola king—the majority Sinhala Buddhists in the country hailed him as the “terminator”. It was believed that the Rajapaksas would again take the country forward, socially and economically. But today, Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis, perhaps its worst. From a fertiliser ban to falling foreign reserves to bankruptcy, the situation in the country has turned Lankans against the Rajapaksas.

The Rajapaksa clan has four brothers at its helm—Irrigation Minister Chamal, Prime Minister Mahinda, President Gotabaya, and Finance Minister Basil. Mahinda’s son, Namal Rajapaksa, who is sports minister, and other members of the family, too, hold key positions. Despite being the power centre, the Rajapaksas have not been able to rein in the economic crisis. Gotabaya’s recent address to the nation, where he said he was “sensitive to the many sufferings the people have had to experience over the past two months”, failed to calm nerves. Basil’s efforts to seek support from the International Monetary Fund and at getting a $1 billion line of credit from India, too, had little impact.