Dictatorship will one day be overthrown. Today, it has happened in Sri Lanka. The family rule that started in 1905 with Don Alvin Rajapakse has come to an end in 2022. What was the game played? What are the words spoken? The Sri Lankan Tamils have suffered a few atrocities. They say ‘work in the morning will reap in the afternoon’. It fits the Rajapakse family perfectly.
In the final war in 2009, the Sri Lankan army mercilessly massacred Sri Lankan Tamils, from young children to adults. This was ordered by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was implemented by the then Defense Minister Gotabaya Rajapakse. A large number of people came as refugees to the Trincomalee Naval Base and Tamil Nadu fearing for their lives. The Rajapakse family, who carried out the murderous attack and enjoyed the luxury of office and life, after about 13 years are still surviving as refugees seeking refuge from country to country, even if only for their lives.
Unrelenting lust for power
In Sri Lanka, the country’s economy is at a low point due to the corona lockdown, tourism freeze, and the unprecedented decline in foreign exchange. The reason for this situation in Sri Lanka is the Rajapakse family. The Rajapakse family was in power from 2005 to 2015. In 2009, the Sinhalese celebrated Mahinda as a hero after winning the final battle with the LTTE. But the same Sinhalese chased them. In the 2015 election, the family lost. But the lust for power alone did not leave the Rajapakse family.
An angry people
In the 2019 elections, President Gotabaya Rajapakse reappointed Mahinda as the Prime Minister. Apart from this, his elder brother Samal Rajapakse, younger brother Basil Rajapakse, Mahinda Rajapakse’s son Namal Rajapakse decorated his family as ministers. Thus, the entire power of the Sri Lankan government went to their families. Unprecedented economic crisis has led to their ruling class, lavish lifestyles and corruption.
Due to this, on April 9, people spontaneously jumped into empty-faced protest demanding the resignation of the Rajapakse family members from the position of power. The crisis ended when the Prime Minister laid siege to the residence and office of the Chancellor and staged a series of protests. Mahinda was forced to resign. Thus, he inflicted violence on his supporters and attacked the people who fought with mercenaries. People attacked in response. The houses of the ruling class, including the Rajapakse house, were set on fire. Subsequently, Mahinda resigned as Prime Minister.
Sweeping through MPs
Gotabaya thought that the new prime minister should be in favor of them. He consulted with the opposition parties for this. At that time, the opposition leader Sajith Premadasa imposed 14 conditions, including that the Rajapakse family should not be in positions of power and that the powers of the President should be reduced. Gothapaya did not agree with this. Gothapaya negotiated with Ranil. He should also reinstate the 19th Amendment which gives more powers to Parliament. He imposed conditions such as dual citizenships not contesting elections. Gothapaya agreed to this. Later, after Ranil took over as Prime Minister, he refused to fulfill the conditions and blocked Gotabaya through his party MPs. Opposition parties and people started accusing Ranil of working in favor of Gothapaya.
Gothapaya seeking refuge
As the situation worsened day by day and the people’s protest turned into a revolution, Basil Rajapaksa, who was the finance minister, resigned. Samal and Namal Rajapakse had already resigned from their ministerial posts. As only Gothapaya continued in office, the people intensified the protest from last 9th and seized the Prime Minister and the President’s House and ransacked it. Gotabaya, who did not have the courage to face the people, took refuge in the Maldives with his family. As the protest broke out there too, he fled to Singapore. From there he sent his resignation letter. In it, he said, ‘Coronavirus is the cause of all the problems of Sri Lanka’. Gotabaya is looking for a place to stay as the Singapore government has only allowed him to stay for 15 days.
Ban to Mahinda, Basil
Mahinda and Basil Rajapakse also planned to flee abroad. Basil Rajapakse was turned away at the airport. Former President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse, former Central Bank Governor Ajit Nivard Cabral and former Treasury Secretary Attikala were prosecuted for the economic crisis. The Supreme Court heard the case and ordered both Mahinda Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse to leave the country till the 28th.
A curfew order
Despite being out of the country, Gothapaya is accused of running the government through his MPs. In particular, he is accused of acting in favor of Ranil. The Rajapakse family, which usually does not offer the post of president to anyone other than the family, has appointed Ranil as the interim president. He made this announcement after leaving the country. It has been 3 months since Ranil took office and he has not taken any major steps to revive the economy. Time has passed to resolve the issue of who is in power. As a result, opposition to Ranil, who has taken over as interim president, has intensified. Opposition parties are demanding his immediate resignation.
Presidential race
The election for the president is going to be held today. Ranil Wickremesinghe, JVP party leader Anurakumara Dissanayake and ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party leader Dallas Alagaperuma are standing as candidates in this election. The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party has announced its support for Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ranil Wickramasinghe is said to be ahead as the ruling party is in a strong majority. As the student unions have declared a protest against Ranil, a state of emergency has again been imposed in Sri Lanka to avoid any untoward incident.
Strong opposition to Ranil
On one hand, Ranil said that he wants an all-party government, he will re-enforce the 19th Amendment and restore the economy. But he did nothing in 3 months. It is alleged that Ranil acted as a puppet to interfere with Gotabaya’s orders. “I have a plan to get the country out of crisis. Giving tax breaks to the super rich is a big mistake. Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa had said that if we want to solve the country’s problems, we need to hold fresh elections. Similarly, some members of the opposition said, ‘Give us the country. They are saying that we are restoring it. In an all-party government, Sajith Premadasa wants to be the president. He is opposed by former President Maithiri Bala Sirisena.
Retired Premadasa
In this case, Sajith Premadasa suddenly withdrew saying that he did not contest the presidential election. In his Twitter post, he said, ‘For the sake of my beloved country and my beloved people, I am withdrawing my candidacy for the post of President. “Our party will work hard to win the presidential election by uniting with the opposition parties,” he said. With this sudden announcement by Sajith Premadasa, there are reports that his party MPs are going to support Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party’s disaffected MP Dallas Alagaperuma.
Due to Sajith Premadasa’s sudden withdrawal, Ranil Wickramasinghe, JVP party leader Anurakumara Dissanayake and ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party leader Dallas Alakaperuma filed petitions for the post of president yesterday. Since Rani has a chance to win, he will be chosen as the president. As people have declared protest against him, it is questionable how long will Ranil’s presidency last.
Like the AIADMK fight…
There was no struggle to revive the economy in Sri Lanka. There is a power struggle going on. The fight has made the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and many other countries reluctant to lend. Reforms are crucial to economic recovery. The parties there did not act in unison to create and implement it. Like the AIADMK fight, the musical chair fight for the presidency in Sri Lanka has worsened the country’s situation. Already bankrupt, the people will be declared unlivable. Currently, this is almost the situation in Sri Lanka.
Will Ranil Sati succeed?
Former Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka, Kalanidhi Dayan Jayathilaka said, ‘Ranil Wickramasinghe is involved in a constitutional coup to retain the position of President of Sri Lanka. If his conspiracy cannot be defeated, then the struggle to oust the Rajapakses from power must be considered a failure. Opposition parties should work together against Rajapakse’s machinations,’ he said.
Intimidation of MPs Warning to Indians
Speaker Mahinda Yappa Abeywardena has reported to the police that threats, intimidation and pressure are being given to some members of Parliament through social media while the vote to elect the new president of the country is going to be held today. The police have registered a case and are monitoring the social media. Meanwhile, a senior Indian government official posted in Sri Lanka has been seriously injured in the attack. Therefore, the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka has issued a warning to Indians in Sri Lanka to stay safe.
7,647 crore loan in four months
Details of loans received by Sri Lanka in the last 4 months only:
India Rs 2,977 crore
Asia Bank Rs2,810 crore
World Bank Rs531 crore
China Rs536 crore
Apart from this, other countries have also provided essential needs and financial assistance. China is the main reason for this situation in Sri Lanka. It made more loans, charged interest, and made another loan to pay off that loan. At present, Sri Lanka is aware of the situation and has helped the name and is waiting for ‘when the food will be empty’.
Election of President for the 2nd time through Parliament
* Presidents were elected by the people in the elections held in 1982, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019.
* After the assassination of the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa in May 1993, TP Wijatunga was elected as the President without any referendum in Parliament.
* For the 2nd time in the political history of Sri Lanka, the process of electing the President through the Parliament is happening today.
* In today’s presidential election in the parliament, the new president will be chosen by a secret ballot of 225 MPs.
* Heavy police security has been placed around the parliament where the presidential election will take place due to the protest announcement.
* The newly elected president will hold office till November 2024, when Gotabaya’s term ends.
* Former President Maithripala Sirisena, the leader of the Freedom Party, has said in a statement that the Freedom Party will not support anyone.
Total Debt: Rs 4,00,0000 Crore
Due by 2026 : Rs 2,00,0000 crore
Due by the end of this year: Rs 60,000 crore
Requirement to temporarily revive the country: Rs 35,000 crore
Total population: 2.2 crore
Food insecure: 63 lakh people
Malnutrition: 67 lakh people
Reduced food intake: 53 lakh people
Severely affected: 65,600 people