In an effort to regain lost power after a recent economic crisis, the Sri Lanka Peoples’ Front has announced that Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, will be their candidate in the upcoming presidential election on September 21. This election holds significant importance for Sri Lanka as the nation works towards concluding a critical debt restructuring program and implementing financial reforms agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund.
The Rajapaksa family has been a dominant force in Sri Lankan politics since the country's independence in 1948, with Mahinda Rajapaksa serving as president from 2005 to 2015. Known for his nationalist appeal to the Buddhist-Sinhalese majority, Rajapaksa led the country to victory over Tamil rebels in 2009, ending a 26-year civil war.
Following a brief hiatus, the Rajapaksa family made a comeback in 2019 when Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda's younger brother, won the presidential election. However, the family faced unexpected challenges in 2022 during the nation's worst economic crisis, leading to their resignation from key government positions.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka has seen some economic improvements. However, public dissatisfaction has been on the rise due to government measures to increase revenue, including raising electricity bills and imposing new income taxes.
As the election approaches, Wickremesinghe has announced his candidacy, with main rivals including opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Dissanayake, the leader of a leftist political party that has gained popularity post-economic crisis.
It remains to be seen how the election will unfold, as Namal Rajapaksa's party faces internal divisions, with some lawmakers pledging support to Wickremesinghe. With only one seat in the parliament, Wickremesinghe has been governing with the backing of lawmakers from the Rajapaksas' party.
