” Back to square one “, cowardly, dark-eyed, Bhuwaneka Perera, one of the figures of the broad protest movement which forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa into exile and resignation, accused of having precipitated Sri Lanka into an abyssal economic crisis. To replace the deposed president, Parliament elected, on Wednesday July 20, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, 73, a close friend of the Rajapaksa clan. For Bhuwaneka Perera and his comrades, gathered at the protest site of Galle Face Green, in the heart of Colombo, “the new president embodies the continuity of a system which has led the country to disaster”.
« Go home, Ranil »
In a silent protest, they followed the parliamentary vote retransmitted on a giant screen, in front of the presidential office stormed on July 9 by the angry crowd. Some wore a black headband with the inscription Go home, Ranil! »in the same way that they chanted, for four months, « Go home, Gota ! »
On the screen, they observed the deputies called, one by one, to deposit their secret ballot, in a Parliament placed under high police and military security. In the front row of the seats of the ruling party, Mahinda Rajapaksa was present, wearing his eternal red scarf. Former head of state and prime minister until last May, Mahinda is the elder brother of the fugitive president; he embodies the power of this Sinhalese nationalist clan which holds more than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament. Four other Rajapaksa were also present on the benches of the deputies. Facing them the opposition, whose two candidates will not make the weight. Ranil was elected with 134 votes, against 82 for his main opponent, Dullas Alahapperuma.
“Our divisions are over”
From this vote emerges a man perceived as ambitious, seasoned in political trickery – he has already been prime minister six times since 1993. Ranil Wickremesinghe was called to this post again in May, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign. “He undeniably has the political experience on his side, which reassured the deputiesunderlines the political scientist Jayadewa Uyangoda. But this vote also expresses the rejection, by the Parliament, of the expectations expressed by the citizens for four months. People wanted a change. With Ranil Wickremesinghe, there was none. Parliament is thus sending a terrible message to the people, who had tried to protest peacefully. »
“Our divisions are finished”, assured, from the outset, the new head of state. However, the crowds demonstrate regularly against him, going so far as to set fire to his residence on July 9. He is accused of a lack of legitimacy, since he himself lost his own parliamentary seat in 2020. “This parliament does not represent the people, and this president has no popular mandate,” denounces lawyer Nuwan Bopagee. “This election is constitutional, but it is not ethicalestimates the activist Bhuwaneka Perera. How can this politician we never elected find himself leading a country of 22 million people? »
The embodiment of a wealthy political elite
The demonstrators see especially in Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose uncle was president, the incarnation of this political elite dominated by a handful of rich and influential families, who have monopolized power for several decades. He now holds the reins of Sri Lanka until the end of his predecessor’s term in November 2024.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has just extended the state of emergency, is tough on popular discontent he might be tempted to quell. But he will also have to manage a country that is bankrupt and practically at a standstill, hit by shortages of fuel and essential foodstuffs. His Western-style reformer image could help him negotiate an economic bailout with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
On the steps of the abandoned presidential office, the demonstrators did not say they were defeated this Wednesday, July 20. “We will do everything in our power to oust Ranil from the presidency,” assures the student leader Wasantha Mudalige, whose network is very active in the streets. “Victory for the fight! », chant his comrades, yet few in number that day, in a Sri Lanka plagued by the economic crisis and out of breath.
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From an economic crisis to a political crisis
31 mars 2022. Violent protests erupt in Colombo, the capital. Protesters are calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, held responsible for the biggest economic crisis to hit the country since its independence in 1948.
May 9, 2022. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns.
May 12, 2022. Ranil Wickremesinghe becomes the new prime minister.
July 14th. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns after fleeing to Singapore.
July 20. Ranil Wickremesinghe becomes president elected by Parliament with an overwhelming majority.