Rajapaksas opt out of Sri Lanka’s November 14 general elections

Rajapaksa brothers opt out of Sri Lankan elections, signaling shift in political landscape post-2022 crisis.

None of the Rajapaksa brothers, who dominated Sri Lankan politics for decades until they were booted out of office in 2022, will contest in the island nation’s general elections next month.

As nominations for the November 14 parliamentary polls closed on Friday (October 11, 2024), the list of candidates fielded by the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP or People’s Front) showed former President and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, 78, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 75, former Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, 81, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, 73, are not running.

Also read: The Rajapaksas | Four brothers in one government

Further, Mr. Mahinda’s son Namal Rajapaksa, who was a Cabinet Minister in Mr. Gotabaya’s ousted administration, is not contesting but is on the party’s “national list”, which includes names of members to be nominated for extra seats the party may secure, based on its share of votes polled.

Mr. Namal ran for presidency in the September 2024 election and came fourth, obtaining just 2.57 % of the total votes.  The Rajapaksa clan dominated the Cabinet in the last administration and several family members held key positions in government as well.

The recent presidential contest, the first election to be held after the island’s 2022 crisis, saw popular opposition legislator Anura Kumara Dissanayake emerge winner with 42.31 % of the votes, in a drastic shake up of Sri Lanka’s political establishment.

Also read: Janatha Aragalaya | The movement that booted out the Rajapaksas