Rajapaksa family

==History==
The Rajapaksas are a rural land-owning family from the village Giruwapattuwa in the southern district of [[Hambantota District|Hambantota]]. The family owned paddy fields and coconut plantations.<ref name="SO0405082">{{cite web|last=Fernando|first=Reggie|title=DA- An exemplary figure in politics|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/04/fea10.asp|publisher=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)]]|accessdate=4 May 2008}}</ref> One of its members, Don David Rajapaksa, held the feudal post of [[Arachchi|Vidanarachchi]] in Ihala Valikada Korale.<ref name="SO0405082" /> The family entered the political scene when Don David Rajapaksa's son Don Mathew Rajapaksa was [[1936 Ceylonese State Council election|elected in 1936]] to represent Hambantota district in the [[State Council of Ceylon|State Council]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wijesinghe|first=Sam|date=25 December 2005|title=People and State Power|work=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)]]|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/12/25/fea104.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605111144/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/12/25/fea104.html|archivedate=5 June 2011}}</ref> Don Mathew died in 1945 and at the resulting by-election his brother [[D. A. Rajapaksa|Don Alwin Rajapaksa]] was elected without a contest.<ref name="ST0611112">{{cite news|last=Gunasekera|first=D. E. W.|date=6 November 2011|title=D.A. Rajapaksa- the pulse of Ruhuna|work=[[Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/111106/News/nws_23.html|authorlink=D. E. W. Gunasekera}}</ref> At the [[1947 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1947 parliamentary election]], two members of the family were elected to represent both of the constituencies in Hambantota district. Don Alwin Rajapaksa was elected MP for Beliatta and Lakshman Rajapaksa (Don Mathew's son) was elected MP for [[Hambantota Electoral District (1947–1989)|Hambantota]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1947%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF|url-status=dead|publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115557/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1947%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF|archivedate=2015-09-24}}</ref> The Rajapaksas continued to dominate politics in Hambantota district for next three decades with two other members of the family, [[George Rajapaksa]] and [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]], also entering parliament. The Rajapaksas were represented in the country's legislatures continuously from 1936 till 1977.<ref name="ST0611112" /> This streak ended after the UNP landslide at the [[1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1977 parliamentary election]].

The family re-emerged as the dominant political force in Hambantota district when Mahinda and his brother [[Chamal Rajapaksa]] were [[1989 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|elected in the 1989 Parliamentary election]] to represent [[Hambantota Electoral District]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1989|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1989%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF|url-status=dead|publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka|archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090304101343/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1989%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF|archivedate=2009-03-04}}</ref> They were later joined by [[Nirupama Rajapaksa]], [[Basil Rajapaksa]] and [[Namal Rajapaksa]].

Although the Rajapaksas had dominated politics in [[Hambantota District]] since 1936, national politics had been dominated by other families such as the [[Senanayake family]] and [[Bandaranaike family]]. This changed in 2005 when Mahinda Rajapaksa was [[2005 Sri Lankan presidential election|elected]] [[President of Sri Lanka|president]]. Since then, members of the family have been appointed to senior political positions. Immediately after being elected president, Mahinda appointed his brother [[Gotabhaya Rajapaksa]] as Defence Secretary, the most senior civil service position in the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite news|date=4 December 2005|title=President and LTTE get set to talk while preparing for eventual war|work=[[The Sunday Leader]]|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20051204/politics.htm}}</ref> Another brother, Basil Rajapaksa, was appointed Senior Presidential Advisor. In 2010 Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected President contesting against a grand opposition coalition that included UNP, TNA, JVP.  At the 2010 Parliamentary Elections, Chamal Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa were elected. Basil Rajapaksa received 425,100 preferential votes from the Gampaha District, the highest by any candidate at the 2010 General election while Namal Rajapaksa obtained 147,568 preferential votes from Hambantota District, the highest majority percentage-wise at the election.<ref>{{cite news|date=8 April 2012|title=Sri Lanka marches towards new era|work=[[The Sunday Observer]]|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/04/08/fea01.asp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Results of Parliamentary General Election 2010 Gampaha District|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/parliamentary_elections/GAMPAHA.html|url-status=dead|publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120805151430/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/parliamentary_elections/GAMPAHA.html|archivedate=2012-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Results of Parliamentary General Election 2010 Hambantota District|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/parliamentary_elections/HAMBANTOTA.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414131423/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/parliamentary_elections/HAMBANTOTA.html|archive-date=2010-04-14|publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}}</ref> Subsequently, Chamal was elected as the Speaker of Parliament unanimously and Basil was appointed as the Minister of Economic Development.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 April 2010|title=Chamal Rajapaksa elected Speaker|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chamal-rajapaksa-elected-speaker/article408097.ece}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fQ6RZ78kG4|title=Mr. Basil Rajapaksa assumes duties as the Minister of Economic Development|date=30 April 2010}}</ref> Between them the three Rajapaksa brothers are in charge of five government ministries: [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Defence & Urban Development]], Law & Order, Economic Development, [[Ministry of Finance and Planning (Sri Lanka)|Finance & Planning]] and Ports & Highways. At one point the brothers reportedly directly controlled 70% of the national budget.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 November 2010|title=Profile: Mahinda Rajapaksa|work=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/focus/2010/01/20101281759855487.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Perera|first=Kusal|date=12 December 2010|title=It's One 'Oxford' Salad For Two Racist Calls|work=[[The Sunday Leader]]|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/12/12/it%E2%80%99s-one-%E2%80%98oxford%E2%80%99-salad-for-two-racist-calls/}}</ref>  The Rajapaksas denied having control over such amounts.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 September 2007|title='Mr. 10%'? Prove it, says Basil|work=[[Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/070930/News/news00020.html}}</ref> According to the 2014 budget the brothers have been allocated 47% of the national budget (40% of recurrent budget and 57% of capital budget).<ref>{{cite web|title=Appropriation Bill 2014|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/Bills/2013/Appropriation%20Bill/E.pdf|publisher=Government Press, Sri Lanka}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Indrajith|first=Saman|date=23 October 2013|title=Budget 2014|work=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)]]|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=90695}}</ref>

Numerous other members of the extended family have also been appointed to senior positions state institutions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chakma|first=Suhas|date=12 April 2012|title=It's all in the family for the Rajapakses|work=[[Tehelka]]|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Fw120412All.asp}}</ref> The accumulation of so much power by one family has inevitably led to accusations of [[nepotism]].<ref>{{cite news|date=21 January 2010|title=Between a rock and a hard man|work=[[The Economist]]|url=http://www.economist.com/node/15330445}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=14 June 2012|title=Ex-Lankan army chief Fonseka vows to topple Rajapaksa govt|work=[[Associated Press]]/[[The Indian Express]]|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/exlankan-army-chief-fonseka-vows-to-topple-rajapaksa-govt/961975/0}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wax|first=Emily|date=17 November 2009|title=Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa sought to silence astrologer Bandara|work=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111603689.html}}</ref> The Rajapaksas deny the charges of nepotism even though evidence of large amounts of corruption, such as the censorship of journalists and the family's unwillingness to yield power to recent victorious Tamils in Northern Sri Lanka, exist everywhere the country.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 November 2013|title=Shadows over Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24753921}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=27 May 2010|title='Trust' is the only process we now depend on after defeating 'terrorism'- President Rajapaksa|url=http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/05/trust_is_the_only_process_we_d.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601072029/http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/05/trust_is_the_only_process_we_d.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 June 2010|publisher=Trans Currents/[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref>

After the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa's [[2015 Sri Lankan presidential election|administration]] which resulted in the loss of their senior positions, some brothers of Mahinda Rajapaksa have fled from the country to avoid being arrested on charges of corruption and wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 January 2015|title=Basil, Dudley leave country|work=DailyMirror.lk|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/60933/basil-dudley-leave-country|accessdate=12 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=11 January 2015|title=Sri Lanka's former President's brother flees country - report|work=Colombo Page|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15A/Jan11_1420949776CH.php|accessdate=12 January 2015}}</ref>

=== Political scandal ===
Following the 2015 presidential election defeat, the Rajapaksa family were accused of misusing public resources during the campaign, including use of the [[Sri Lankan Air Force]] in the campaign that cost $17,273.28 (Rs. 2,278,000.00) of public funds.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kannangara, Nirmala|date=18 January 2015|title=Flying High With Public Funds|work=[[The Sunder Leader]]|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/01/18/flying-high-with-public-funds/|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref> The Rajapaksa family received numerous [[Public resources|state resource abuse]] complaints from organisations and election monitors, including involvement in fraud, misuse of powers, and murder. Among the charges are money laundering said to have taken $5.31 billion (Rs. 700 billion) out of the country illegally through Sri Lanka's Central Bank using Mahinda Rajapaksa's close association with [[Ajith Nivard Cabraal]], the former governor of [[Central Bank of Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite news|author=ANEEZ, SHIHAR|date=22 January 2014|title=Sri Lanka to probe hidden foreign assets after Rajapaksa defeat|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-politics-corruption-idUSKBN0KV20J20150122|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=14 January 2015|title=Sri Lanka's former president Rajapaksa faces graft complaint|work=[[The Straits Times]]|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-asia/story/sri-lankas-former-president-rajapaksa-faces-graft-complaint-20150114|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref>

On 23 January 2015, the [[Seychelles]] government announced that would assist the [[Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan]] government in search of funds that were transferred by the Rajapaksa regime into Port [[Victoria, Seychelles|Victoria]] [[offshore bank]] accounts.<ref name="Seychelles Investigation2">{{cite news|date=23 January 2015|title=Seychelles says ties with Sri Lanka go beyond politics, offers to assist investigations|work=Colombo Page|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15A/Jan23_1422027029CH.php|accessdate=5 February 2015}}</ref> In February 2015, [[India]] pledged to help the [[Sirisena cabinet|Sirisena Government]] in tracing the billion of dollars that were taken out of the country illegally.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 February 2015|title=India to help SL to trace billions stashed abroad|work=DailyMirror.lk|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/62787/india-to-help-sl-to-trace-billions-stashed-abroad|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref> Sirisena's government sought help from the [[World Bank]] and the [[International Monetary Fund]] in locating this hidden wealth to expose the alleged corruption of the previous regime.<ref name="India to help Sri Lanka to trace billions stashed abroad by Rajapaksas2">{{cite news|date=4 February 2015|title=India to help Sri Lanka to trace billions stashed abroad by Rajapaksas|work=Sri Lanka Guardian|url=http://www.slguardian.org/?p=26385|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref> An Anti-Corruption Unit was formed by then Prime Minister [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]], and the new Cabinet has appointed a high-powered "rapid response team" to look into corrupt land transactions, stock market price-fixing and the abuse of state funds for political purposes by Rajapaksa family and the close association of Mahinda Rajapaksa.<ref name="India to help Sri Lanka to trace billions stashed abroad by Rajapaksas2" />

Public sentiment towards the ruling Rajapaksha-led government took a significant downturn during the foreign currency and economic crisis faced by Sri Lanka in 2022. [[2022 Sri Lankan protests|Demonstrations against their rule]] were held in major residential areas of Colombo including one held near the president [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]'s private resident.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka economic crisis: The all-powerful Rajapaksas under fire |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-the-all-powerful-rajapaksas-under-fire |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> In the escalation of protests, an angry mob in Sri Lanka burned down several homes belonging to the Rajapaksa family. Previously, protesters were attacked by government supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61389189 | title=Sri Lanka: Protesters torch leaders' homes in night of unrest | publisher =BBC News  |access-date=10 May 2022}}</ref>  

=== 2019 presidential election and economic crisis ===
In 2018, [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]], brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa emerged as a possible candidate for the [[2019 Sri Lankan presidential election|2019 Presidential election]], which he successfully contested on a pro-nationalistic, economic development and national security platform, gaining a majority from the predominant [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] areas of the island. He is the first person with military background to be elected as President of Sri Lanka and also the first person to be elected President who had not held an elected office prior.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka gets its first president with military credentials|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/sri-lanka-president-military-credentials-191119175813787.html|access-date=18 December 2019|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

After [[2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election]], Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the Prime Minister while Chamal Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa became [[Minister of Irrigation (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Irrigation]] and [[Minister of Youth and Sports (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Youth and Sports]] respectively in the [[Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet]]. Later in July 2021 [[Basil Rajapaksa]] was appointed as the [[Minister of Finance (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Finance]] after entering the parliament from the [[National list member of Parliament (Sri Lanka)|national list]]. When the country began to face the [[2019–present Sri Lankan economic crisis|economic downfall]], the public blame it on the Rajapaksa family's corruption and economic mismanagement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thousands in Sri Lanka insist Rajapaksa family quit politics |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/10/thousands-in-sri-lanka-insist-rajapaksa-family-quit-politics |website=Al Jazeera |date=10 April 2022 |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> Following the [[2022 Sri Lankan protests|massive protests]] demanding the Rajapaksa family to resign, they resigned from their Ministerial portfolios.<ref>{{cite web |title=With Sri Lanka's crisis, Rajapaksa family falls: A look at key figures |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/with-sri-lanka-s-crisis-rajapaksa-clan-falls-a-look-at-key-figures-101657730199590.html |work=Hindustan Times News |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> Later in July 2022, President Gotabaya [[Exile of Gotabaya Rajapaksa|fled the country]] and stepped down.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri Lanka crisis: How the mighty Rajapaksa family lost power, grace |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/sri-lanka-crisis-how-the-mighty-rajapaksa-family-lost-power-grace-101657754344553.html |work=Hindustan Times News |date=14 July 2022 |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>