DOWNFALL OF THE RAJAPAKSAS

Through nepotism and poor policy decisions, the Rajapaksas have nearly ruined Sri Lanka’s economy. Now, a nation burning in rage wants the last of them out

- Chandani Kirinde

How the mighty have fallen. For the once politically formidable Rajapaksa family in Sri Lanka, the end seems nigh. Their spectacular reversal of political fortunes, triggered by an unprecedented downturn in the economy due to mismanagement, corruption and nepotism, has been swift, but not surprising.

Just two and a half years ago, in November 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected president by an overwhelming majority. It was followed by a landslide victory for his Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP) in the general election in August 2020. It guaranteed him a two-thirds majority in parliament and helped him instal his older brother Mahinda as prime minister. But the two top posts in the country didn’t satisfy the Raj-apaksas—elder brother, Chamal, was made agriculture minister and younger brother Basil the finance minister. They even installed Mahinda’s son, Namal, seen as the heir apparent, as minister of youth and sports.

For Sri Lanka’s formidable first family, however, things began to go downhill rapidly. Anti-Rajapaksa protests over high inflation and incompetent governance began with candlelit vigils in the suburbs of the political and commercial capital, Colombo. It soon spread across the country, taking the form of an apolitical, peaceful protest movement calling for the resignation of the president, as well as the rest of the first family. The first one to go was finance minister Basil, who faced flak for his handling of the deteriorating financial situation and his prolonged absence from parliament when Lanka was burning. Chamal and Namal followed soon, in a bid to stem the growing criticism against the Rajapaksas.