From demigods to traitors: The rise and fall of the Rajapaksa clan
The carefully built invincible image of Rajapaksa now lays in tatters.
The carefully built invincible image of Rajapaksa now lays in tatters.
The crisis is testament to what happens when politicians become self-serving or want to make a show of development, rather than serving the public.
As president, Mr Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest, and he is believed to have wanted to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained.
Amid the ticking clock of the island's food and fuel shortages, various political parties are now scrambling to appoint their own presidential candidate.
According to the parliamentary speaker, Sri Lanka's parliament will reconvene on July 15.
The announcement was made by the Speaker following a hybrid meeting of several political parties, that some leaders joined via Zoom.
The island nation has endured months of galloping inflation and lengthy power cuts after the government ran out of foreign currency to import vital goods.
The Cardinal also appealed to the international community to assist in providing Sri Lanka with medicines and equipment for hospitals amid its economic crisis.
Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since its independence, with foreign exchange reserves at a record low of $1.92 billion, according to the central bank.
The future appears uncertain not only for the Rajapaksa dynasty but also for the people, who are worried about a looming food crisis come August 2022.