‘Pushed towards anarchy’: why Sri Lanka is a nation on the brink
The country is only a few more ‘bad decisions’ away from disaster
Sri Lanka is being “pushed towards anarchy”, said Ceylon Today (Colombo). For months, it has been in the grip of a crippling economic crisis. The price of rice has doubled since last year. There are shortages of basic foods, fuel and medicine, and ten-hour daily power cuts. Inflation, running at 20%, has rendered savings worthless. The country is due to default on $50bn of foreign debt.
“Incensed” Sri Lankans have protested in large numbers over the past month to demand the resignation of their president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In an attempt to stem the fury, the entire cabinet – except the president and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa – resigned on 3 April. But that “did not appease the masses”; the protests only gained momentum. Last week, police used live rounds to disperse rioting protesters in the town of Rambukkana, killing one person and injuring 14 more. The nation is only a few more “bad decisions” away from disaster.
Rajapaksa has made plenty of those, said Nihal Jayawickrama in the Colombo Telegraph. A Sinhalese Buddhist, he was elected president in 2019 following the Easter Sunday terror attacks that killed over 200 people. His background as defence secretary during Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war, which ended in 2009, made him appear a solid choice to restore law and order. Yet on taking office, he ill-advisedly implemented “massive” tax cuts, slashing state revenues. Inflation soared. And when Covid took out its tourism industry, Sri Lanka was left struggling to repay its debts.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rajapaksa’s biggest single error was to ban the use of synthetic fertiliser and pesticides last year, said Chandre Dharmawardana on Island (Colombo). Some say it was a bid to return Sri Lanka to “traditional” farming, guided by his soothsayer, “Gnanakka”. Others say it was largely to save money on state-subsidised fertilisers. Either way, the results were catastrophic, with a dramatic drop in crop yields.
“Facing such daunting prospects, many leaders would have stepped down by now,” said Sumit Ganguly and Dinsha Mistree on Foreign Policy (Washington). Yet Rajapaksa, whose family has dominated Sri Lankan politics for years – three members of his family were in his cabinet – is unlikely to let go: he has secured $2bn in aid from India, and is seeking a bailout from the IMF. Any such deal, however, would almost certainly have austerity conditions attached, risking yet more social unrest. Whether Rajapaksa could survive that is unclear; what is certain is that “Sri Lanka is headed into even more turbulent waters”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 16, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - sleepyhead, little people, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
Woman reunited with egg she signed in 1951
It Wasn't All Bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
American rescued after 12 days in Turkish cave
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
What Mexico’s first female president might mean for the ‘femicide nation’
feature The Latin American country is grappling with misogynist crime amid a backdrop of progress for women in politics
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Ukrainian military has ‘shown how the Russian army can be beaten’
Talking Point Recent Ukrainian frontline advances may offer hope for its counter-offensive
By The Week Staff Published
-
Guatemala’s anti-corruption election winner offering hope to a region
feature Central Americans fighting authoritarianism ‘rooting’ for centre-left Bernardo Arévalo
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Earring lost at sea returned to fisherman after 23 years
feature Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
Bully XL dogs: should they be banned?
Talking Point Goverment under pressure to prohibit breed blamed for series of fatal attacks
By The Week Staff Last updated