Rajapaksa clan's return: With Mahinda as PM, Rajapaksas hold all 3 top posts in Sri Lanka

With Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister for fourth time on Sunday, powerful Rajapaksa clan w holds all major posts in government. 74-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa was previously appointed as PM by Sri Lankan President and younger bror - Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 21 vember 2019, two days after Gotabaya won Presidential elections in wake of Easter bombings. Apart from Mahinda - who was also former President, his son Namal, his eldest bror Chamal (77), and his son Sashindra, and nephew Nipuna Ranawaka have been elected as MPs to parliament. With re-election of Chamal - a former Speaker, it is assured that a Rajapaksa will hold all top three posts of Sri Lankan government.

Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa alliance wins two-third majority in parliamentary election

2020 Prime Ministerial elections

Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party - leing Sri Lanka People's Front, won 145 seats in 225-member parliament in election last Wednesday. Its main opponent, SJB obtained 54 seats, while a mirity Tamil party won 10 seats and 12 smaller parties won 16 seats amongst m. With almost two-thirds of majority, Rajapaksas have returned completely to power in island nation, strengning its dynastic ruling style.

Mahinda Rajapaksa: Sri Lanka’s man for all seasons

Rajapaksas rise

Mahinda Rajapaksa's presidency from 2005-2015 was hugely popular among Sri Lanka's Sinhalese population for ending Sri Lanka’s 37- year-long civil war against Tamil Tigers in 2009. After leaving office in 2015, he contested for Prime Ministerial elections but lost to Ranil Wickremasinghe. In 2018, he was appointed as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after Wickremesinghe lost support of United People's Freedom Alliance. While two -confidence motions were passed, President Sirisena rejected m. After Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional, suspending Rajapaksa's powers as Prime Minister and forcing him to prove his government's legitimacy, he resigned as PM.

Meanwhile, his bror - Gotabaya -   former defense chief of nation, won Presidential elections in vember 2019 after running up his campaign mainly on security, in wake of Easter bombings. Gotabaya, feared by 15% Tamil mirity, led Sri Lankan Armed forces successful war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009. With n-President Sirisena facing fire for lack of security during Easter attacks, plunging country into multiple emergencies from April 22 to August 24, Gotabaya easily defeated his main contender - Premasa from governing liberal United National Party (UNP) and son of assassinated former president Ranasinghe Premasa, garnering 52.87 percent of votes. Amid COVID pandemic, he dissolved Parliament in March and called for early snap elections, naming his bror Mahinda as Prime Ministerial candidate.

Mahinda Rajapaksa takes oath as Sri Lankan Prime Minister

What do Rajapaksas aim to change?

Rajapaksas aim is to bring constitutional change by repealing 19th amendment - which establishes a Constitutional Council which will exercise some executive powers held by President. amendment passed under n-President Sirisena in 2015  set up independent commissions like - Election Commission, Public Service Commission, National Police Commission, Finance Commission, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, University Grants Commission, police commission etc. With Rajapaksas gaining 145 of required 150 seats to change constitution, activists fear weakening government institutions, restrictions on Freedom of Speech and alleged human rights abuses on Tamil mirities.

PM Modi, Dr Swamy congratulate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on winning Sri Lankan Presidency

Rajapaksas with India & China

India's relations with Sri Lanka became strained in 2014 when a Chinese submarine and warship were allowed to dock in Colombo and 99-year lease of Hambantota port in sourn Sri Lanka to China in 2015. With Gotabaya's re-election, he pledged to rebuild Sri Lanka's intelligence services and work closely with India. Moreover, Prime Minister Modi was among first to congratulate both Gotabaya and Mahinda on ir successful re-election.

However, China too welcomed re-election of Rajapaksas. According to ecomists, Sri Lanka which is facing severe ecomic constraints has China as its biggest source of foreign direct investment, followed by India. Moreover, Rajapaksas were favoured by Chinese as experts point out Beijing's support to Sirisena's move to replace Ranil Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime minister, which was later struck done by Supreme Court. With rise of yet ar 'strongman-style' government in Asia, experts feel Sri Lanka will play as a 'battleground for India and China'.