Asia | Banyan

Sri Lanka’s ruling family is running out of road

The Rajapaksas hang together. Now they are falling apart

Editor’s note: On May 9th Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s prime minister, resigned amid violent clashes between anti-government protesters and his supporters. The president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa—Mahinda’s brother—deployed troops to quell the unrest in the capital, and imposed a curfew. The homes of several politicians were set on fire. A lawmaker from the ruling party was among those who have died.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Unhappy families”

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