October 13, Colombo (LNW): None of the influential Rajapaksa brothers, who held a dominant role in Sri Lankan politics for decades, will contest in the forthcoming general elections scheduled for November 14, 2024.
This marks a significant turning point in the country’s political landscape, as the once-powerful family steps aside amidst the island’s evolving political dynamics.
As the deadline for candidate nominations closed on October 11, it was confirmed that key members of the Rajapaksa family—former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, 78, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 75, along with former Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, 81, and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, 73—will not participate in the elections.
Mahinda’s son, Namal Rajapaksa, also opted out of direct competition, although he appears on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)’s national list, a provision allowing extra seats depending on the party’s electoral performance.
Namal Rajapaksa’s recent run in the September 2024 presidential election ended in disappointment, with him finishing fourth, securing only 2.57% of the vote.
This defeat signalled the weakening influence of the Rajapaksa dynasty, which had long held sway over Sri Lanka’s political scene.
The Rajapaksas were central figures in the previous government, occupying many high-ranking Cabinet positions.
The exit of the Rajapaksa brothers from direct electoral politics follows a major upheaval during the 2022 political crisis, in which widespread protests demanded systemic reforms and the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The unrest, known as the ‘Janatha Aragalaya’ or people’s struggle, ultimately led to the family’s fall from power.
In the presidential election of 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power (NPP) emerged victorious with 42.31% of the vote, signalling a dramatic shift in the island’s political climate.
The NPP, a leftist coalition led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), now aims to secure a majority in the 225-member Parliament. Having previously held only three seats, the NPP must secure 113 to carry out President Dissanayake’s legislative agenda.
Other prominent figures in Sri Lankan politics, including former Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala Sirisena, as well as nationalist politicians such as Patali Champika Ranawaka and Wimal Weerawansa, have also opted not to run in the November elections.
This collective withdrawal of political veterans marks the end of an era and reflects a broader shift in the island’s political scene, influenced heavily by the demands of the 2022 protests for reform.
Sagara Kariyawasam, the general secretary of the SLPP, acknowledged Mahinda Rajapaksa’s long-standing service to the nation, stating that he had “done his part” after more than four decades in Parliament.
However, the party has chosen not to comment extensively on the withdrawal of the other Rajapaksa brothers. Meanwhile, Chamal Rajapaksa’s son, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, is contesting from the southern Monaragala district, ensuring that the family maintains some political presence.
