Sri Lanka is undoubtedly preparing to turn a page in its history marked by the domination of the Rajapaksa. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was the last member of the clan to still cling to power, is expected to resign on Wednesday July 13. Chased from the presidential palace by a crowd of angry demonstrators on Saturday, the man fled under the protection of the army. In the rush, he reportedly left behind 17.85 million rupees, or about 49,000 euros, in cash. The protesters, who have been short of everything for months due to the severe economic and financial crisis hitting the country, handed over the brand new tickets to the police.
Several local media claim that the president is preparing to leave for Dubai. On the morning of Tuesday July 12, agents at Colombo’s main international airport and passengers reportedly prevented Basil Rajapaksa, ex-finance minister, from leaving the country.
This humiliating fall of the clan, pushed towards the exit by the street, contrasts with its reputation. The Rajapaksa family ruled Sri Lanka with an iron fist from 2005 to 2015, before returning to power in November 2019. The election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, nicknamed “the terminator”, had then consecrated the return to the responsibilities of the family. In the wake of the jihadist attacks of April 2019, which had caused the death of more than 250 people, “Gota”, the soldier of the siblings and former Minister of Defense, renowned for his ruthless operations against the guerrillas of the Tamil Tigers, had presented himself as the man capable of taking up the country, with its security and economic challenges.
“Absolute nepotism”
He gradually reinstalled his family in control of the country. Gotabaya’s brother, ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was named prime minister. Another brother, Basil Rajapaksa, nicknamed “Mister 10%” – a reference to the commissions he would have received on public contracts – became finance minister. The eldest of the siblings, Chamal Rajapaksa, was given the irrigation portfolio. Finally, the new generation has not been forgotten: Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of Mahinda, tipped to one day take the helm of the country, has received the Ministry of Sports and Youth. All, including the charismatic Mahinda, have been pressured to resign in recent months in the hope of keeping Gotabaya in power.
“It’s absolute nepotism, the Rajapaksa family has appropriated the state”, fumed Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, founder of the Center for Policy Alternatives, a Sri Lankan think tank. The President also pushed through an amendment to the Constitution giving him sweeping powers in the appointment and dismissal of civil servants, judges, police, ministers, and control over independent human rights commissions and anti-corruption efforts. This maneuver was intended in particular to protect him from any investigation into allegations of corruption and crimes that may have been committed during the civil war.
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