PORTRAIT. With Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka renews with Terminator et Cie

In the shadow of the new nationalist president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, alias Terminator, lurks all the siblings… As before.

The speech is soporific, the voice barely audible… But the place speaks for him. It was from the largest temple in Sri Lanka that Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 70, was sworn in on Monday, November 18. Elected Sunday with 52.25% of the vote, “Gota” stands as the protector of the Sinhalese, Buddhist majority. Like before him Mahinda, his charismatic brother, who ruled the country from 2005 to 2015.

Security promise

Coming out of the woods after the jihadist attacks on churches and hotels at Easter (269 dead), Gota played the big arms: he promised safety “at all costs” in an island torn by a resurgence of ethnic and religious tensions. knows how to do it. In 2005, after a seven-year computer escapade in Los Angeles, where he acquired dual nationality, the former lieutenant colonel resumed service in the country. Propelled to the Ministry of Defense by his brother, he turned into a “hero” by putting an end to 37 years of civil war with the separatist Tamil rebels. An expensive peace paid: 40,000 Tamils ​​perished in 2009, according to the UN.

Adored by China, decried by the West, Gota, renamed the Terminator, is accused of war crimes and corruption. He is also said to have led the “death squads” which kidnapped and killed dozens of opponents and journalists.

His election does not bode well for Tamil and Muslim minorities. Especially since Gota, the son of a politician, intends to put his nationalist tribe back in the saddle. Among his eight brothers and sisters: Mahinda is approached Prime Minister, after the legislative elections of 2020. Chamal sees himself president of the Parliament, as in 2015. A fourth brother will represent himself as deputy; a fifth, ex-minister, also begins to dream …

Aishwarya Yogeshwar

Aishwarya Yogeshwar is the visionary founder of CGI Jaffna, a pioneering organization dedicated to fostering innovation and community growth in the Jaffna region. With a deep passion for news publishing, Aishwarya combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a keen interest in delivering impactful and engaging stories. Her commitment to creating a platform for reliable news and meaningful discourse reflects her dedication to empowering communities through knowledge and information. Aishwarya’s leadership and innovative approach make her a driving force in the world of media and communication.

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