In the summer of 2022, Pali Abeywickrama and his friends marched to the presidential palace during Sri Lanka’s popular anti-government uprising. They and thousands of others stormed Gotabaya Rajapaksa‘s residence and forced the president to flee the country, in scenes that made headlines around the world.
Mr Abeywickrama is now gearing up for another march, this time to the polling station to cast his vote in today’s election, the first to be held since the “aragalaya” (struggle) that brought down the Rajapaksa regime.
Hundreds and thousands of people across the island took to the streets in July 2022 after struggling with an acute food, medicine, and fuel shortage triggered by soaring inflation. Two years later the collective public anger may have abated, but the economic condition of the nation of 22 million people remains volatile.
Today’s election is both unpredictable and crucial, with a record number of 38 candidates, all men, in the fray.
There has not been a single presidential election in Sri Lanka without the participation of the Rajapaksa family in over two decades and today’s will be no exception. The candidature of Namal Rajapaksa, the 38-year-old son of another former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, has sparked fears about a resurgence of the Rajapaksa dynasty on the troubled island.
“The protests were the need of the hour and there is no place for the Rajapaksas in Sri Lankan politics,” 33-year-old trader Abeywickrama tells The Independent. “The act of storming the palace was revolutionary,” he says. He hopes the future of the island will change for the better, “but the protests unfortunately made very little difference.”
This story is from the September 21, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 21, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ricciardo set for axe - and only has himself to blame
When handed a second chance in Formula One last summer, Daniel Ricciardo had his aspirations set higher than a paltry seat at Red Bull's sister team.
Sri Lankans vote today in shadow of political dynasty
Protesters who toppled the Rajapaksa government in 2022 are hoping for change, but two of the candidates are closely linked to the establishmen
Israeli strike in Beirut kills top Hezbollah commander
Israel says it has killed a top Hezbollah commander in a strike on Beirut yesterday, fuelling fears of an all-out war on the IsraeliLebanon border. Israeli military said that Ibrahim Aqi Aqil, who served on Hezbollah's top military body and was the acting commander of the group's elite Radwan force, was killed along with other senior commanders of the unit.
'The West needs a Russia strategy in place come Putin's inevitable downfall'
In the second part of his exclusive interview, freed dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza tells Tom Watling that the long-term security of Europe rests on a free and democratic Russia
Mother blames hospital for death of 'terrified' daughter
A young woman \"traumatised\" by a stay in a scandal-hit hospital as a teenager died after trying to take her own life years later, an inquest has heard. Melissa Parrish was admitted to Huntercombe Hospital in Maidenhead in 2009 for an eating disorder when she was 15 years old, but the experience left her terrified of being admitted to hospital.
Ninety-four-year-old dies after 'hugger mugger' attack
A 94-year-old man died after he was hugged by a mugger who snatched his bank cards in a bustling London town centre.
Work starts to build refuge after £25,000 donated by one person anonymously
The Independent is thrilled to reveal we can break ground and start building a refuge after an incredible response to the Brick by Brick campaign. Geordie Greig, the publication's editor-in-chief, thanked readers for their generous donations of £71,050 so far, including £25,000 from a mystery supporter.
'Trailblazing' film and soap.star Sylvestre dies aged 79
Actor Cleo Sylvestre has died aged 79, her agent has confirmed.
Cherie Blair: Abuser pushed me down the stairs in court
The KC reveals her decades-long commitment to victims of domestic abuse as she backs our campaign with Refuge
Starmer's five missions at risk of becoming impossible
For a party which won a stonking majority of 174 only two months ago, Labour's annual conference starting tomorrow would normally be a celebration. Yet Keir Starmer can't allow more than a brief nod to his landslide victory, which already feels a long time ago.