Rajapaksa family

Widely seen to be an ally of the Rajapaksas, his election could reignite fresh protests on the restive island.

One member of the Sri Lankan diaspora reflects on the agony of watching his motherland lurch from crisis to crisis. 

President Gotabaya, who is the last Rajapaksa still clinging to national office, has not been seen outside his heavily guarded compound.

Mahinda Rajapaksa is the fourth member of the Rajapaksa clan to step down since the political crisis worsened in late March.

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, backed by the ruling coalition led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was re-elected deputy speaker after having resigned in April.

A majority vote in the 225-member Parliament would be needed to remove Rajapaksa and the Cabinet from power. 

MP (and former president) Sirisena says Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to a national council and a new prime minister; the prime minister's spokesperson said that had not been communicated yet.

But Sri Lanka's ruling family is refusing to heed the demand for their resignation.

“The political and economic crisis have exposed the multiple failures of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency.”

Under pressure from the people to resign, Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa are scheming separately, each to sink the other to save his own seat.

The united voices of the people must be heard: “Gota Must Go.”