Is It Curtains For President Gotabaya Rajapaksa As Opposition Gathers Steam?

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka’s political crisis triggered by its economic crisis, appears to be gathering steam. The Opposition has presented to the Speaker of parliament, constitutional amendments that would strip President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of his powers.

Speaking on The Gist, Paikiasothy Sarvanamuttu, executive director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo think tank, assesses the president’s chances given his past statements that he would not resign. The larger question of course is whether resignation in these circumstances means the end of Gotabaya’s political career.

Sarvanamuttu looks at related issues including the ethnic Tamils and their response to the crisis, and India’s role. Is the latter secretly favouring the Rajapaksas? Are the supplies of food and fuel intended to shore up the Rajapaksas? How long will the protests sustain?

Tune in for more in this chat with P. Sarvanamuttu of the Centre for Policy Alternatives.