whileSri Lankais facing the country’s worst economic crisis. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1948, the world’s eyes have been on the dominant political family of this Indian Ocean island. which currently serves to rule the country under the leadership of the PresidentKotaphaya Ratchapaksa
The cause of this economic crisis This was partly due to the shortage of foreign currency. As a result, there is no money to import essential goods such as fuel. Resulting in power outages throughout the country for at least half a day. And there is also a shortage of food and medicine.
Sri Lankan government failure
All of this caused the people’s wrath to erupt. because they are not satisfied with the government’s failed solution. and called on the government under the leadership of politicians fromRajapaksa family resigns
Hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police and soldiers for hours outside the presidential home in Colombo on March 31, 2022. The protests began with peace and violence.
The protesters said The violence started After the police fired tear gas spraying water to disperse mob and beat the people The protesters responded to the police by throwing stones at the protesters. But he was accused of setting fire to several police and military vehicles.
The violent situation prompted the president to declare a state of emergency. to empower security forces to arrest and detain protesters A curfew was announced and efforts to stem the protests were blocked by social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter.
As a result of the protests, 26 ministers announced their resignations, except for Mahintha Ratchapaksa Prime Minister with his brother or President Kota Phaya
and most recently, opposition political groups also rejected the president’s invitation to join the national government to resolve the country’s crisis In addition, more than 40 members of the government’s ruling party announced their resignation from the ruling coalition.
(Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Brother of the President of Kota Phaya Rajapaksa)
The influential Rajapaksa family
Rajapaksa has been Sri Lanka’s politically influential family for decades. have a short time losing the election until having to be the opposition before returning to power again After Kota Phaya won the presidential election in late 2019
His father, Don Alvin Rajapaksa, was a former MP and Minister Mahinda, the elder was a two-term president and the current prime minister with his younger brother Kota Phaya as the president.
Five members of the Rajapaksa family have joined the current cabinet. prior to resignation
The first was Mahinta as Prime Minister. The President of Kota Phaya is the Minister of Defense. Shamalwho is the prime minister’s brother was also the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
basil who is the president’s younger brother, is the Minister of Finance. before being fired by his brother political poison Namalwho is the son of the Prime Minister was seated as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs
It is estimated that About 75 percent of the country’s budget is under the control of ministers from the Rajapaksa family.
(Basil Rajapaksa, brother of Kota Phaya President became the Minister of Finance then hit by brotherdischarged)
Mahintha, Big Boss of the Rajapaksa family
Mahintha Ratchapaksa The 76-year-old is the family’s big boss and current prime minister. He previously served as prime minister in 2004 before winning the presidential election and holding in power from 2005 to 2015.
He returned to the prime minister’s chair for the second time three years ago by the appointment of his younger brother Kota Phaya.
Mahinda is beloved by the Sinhalese people. which mainly adheres to Buddhism for leading the crackdown on Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in May 2009, ending a decades-long civil war.
President Mahinda at the time was heavily criticized by the international community. on issues of human rights violations As many as 40,000 civilians were killed in that operation, according to the United Nations. All were herded into an area known as A no-fire zone before it was bombed by the Sri Lankan Army.
Mahinda with the massacre
Mahinda denies that number. and declined to be investigated by international organizations on allegations of the massacre. Several domestic investigations also seized liquid water. Whether investigating or prosecuting war crimes
In 2020, Mahinda returned to power again. When the Sri Lankan Podujana Party Peramuna won 145 of the 225 seats in the House of Commons in a landslide victory, earning him 500,000 votes, the highest ever in election history.
during his rule of the country He brought Sri Lanka closer to China. The country borrows nearly $7 billion for infrastructure.
Many projects have become costly to build and maintain. But it is rarely useful and leads to corruption.
Critics consider Mahinda rarely attaches importance to narrowing the discrimination gap with the Tamils. After the Civil War ended Tamil communities are forbidden from holding war memorial events. and are still mostly marginalized.
Kota Phaya: Assassin
Sri Lanka has been ruled by a president who has overwhelmed the executive branch since 1978, but a 2015 constitutional amendment strengthened the parliament and the prime minister. and empowers independent committees to oversee the appointment of judges, the police, the public service and hold elections.
Kotaphaya Ratchapaksa 72 years old, elected president in November 2019, after presenting himself as the only leader capable of defending the country.
After Islamic State blasts at churches and luxury hotels while people are attending religious services. Due to Easter in April 2019, which killed 269 people and has since won the election. Kota Phaya said that He had to work under a number of constraints. due to the amendment of the Constitution
Kota Phaya is the successor of Mahinda. when he was the leader of the country His younger brother is the Minister of Defense who oversees the army and police. Kota Phaya denies allegations of being behind the killing team that kidnapped and carried 10 opponents in a white van.
His family nicknamed Kota Phaya “The Terminator,” or assassin. his hotness frighten the enemy
Kota Phaya is now facing its worst economic crisis in decades. and became the main target of the people’s wrath together with his brother Mahinda
Protesters hold signs saying “Go Gota Go” or “Get out of here, Kota.” outside his home on March 31, condemning the Rajapaksa family for mismanagement.
Basil earned the title Mister 10%.
Basil Rajapaksa 70 years old, political strategist and Minister of Finance Overseeing the economy under the administration of Prime Minister Mahinda before being discharged because of this economic crisis
Basil was nicknamed “Mr 10%” during an interview with the BBC. It cited allegations of receiving commissions from government contracting parties.
But successive governments I can’t prove that He embezzled millions of dollars. And every lawsuit he was sued for was withdrawn after Kota Phaya became president.
Shamal : The Bodyguard
Shamal Rajapaksa At the age of 79, he was the oldest in the family. He was the Speaker of the National Assembly during Mahinda’s term as President. He was also the Minister of Transport and Aviation in the current government. Chamal assumes the position of Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation and is the second most important person after Kota Phaya in the Ministry of Defense.
Shamal was a police officer and served as a personal bodyguard for the world’s first female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Namal: heir to the royal family
Namal Rajapaksa The 35-year-old lawyer is the eldest son of Prime Minister Mahinda and heir to the family. that the father prepares to follow in the footsteps of the future president
He entered politics as a member of parliament for the first time in 2010 at the age of 24. He joined his father’s current cabinet. in the position of Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and is one of the Cabinet’s latest resignation letter
During the government under the leadership of his father And the aunt blocked social media use on April 3. Namal used Twitter to advise people to use a VPN or a virtual private network. to access geo-blocked websites and applications At the same time, he urged the government to lift the ban on social media platforms.
“I will never forgive blocking access to social media. the vpn or network i am using Now, that ban is completely useless. I ask the authorities to think more progressively. and revisit this decision,” he tweeted.
During the decade his father was in power as president. Namal was very influential. Although he held no position, the former rival government accused He laundered money and other corruption. which he refused
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Source AFP and https://www.news18.com