COLOMBO, Aug 4 — Sri Lankans head to the polls tomorrow with the ruling Rajapaksa brothers looking for a super-majority in parliament to change the constitution and unravel democratic safeguards. Political observers say the siblings — renowned for their ruthless crushing of Tamil separatist...
Gotabaya Rajapaksa , with his brothers Mahinda and Chamal , are seen as they leave the election commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 7, 2019. — Reuters pic
The Rajapaksa political dynasty, a long-time force in Sri Lanka, dramatically stormed back to power in November when former defence secretary Gotabaya, 71, was elected president. A big victory in this week’s parliamentary polls would allow them to overturn constitutional changes passed by the previous administration to decentralise power and prevent another strongman from emerging.Both Rajapaksas have argued that a return to the concentration of power in the hands of the president is needed for them to rebuild the island nation.
Those changes also made the judiciary, police, civil service and election commission independent branches of government. Gotabaya in February issued a veiled warning to the judiciary in a speech where he said judges should refrain from “unnecessary interference” in the political process. Even if their party fails to secure a two-thirds majority, they could defy a law that prevents MPs from crossing the floor and “buy” opposition legislators to form an alliance.
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