Latest Mahinda Rajapaksa News

Sri Lankans' fury forced the powerful Rajapaksa clan out. Now its heir is running for president

Sep. 13, 2024 01:07 AM EDT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — When an uprising ousted Sri Lanka's president, many saw it as the end of his powerful family’s hold on the island nation after more than 12 years of rule. Now, as Sri Lanka prepares to elect a new leader, Namal Rajapaksa is running for president. The...

What's at stake in Sri Lanka's first presidential vote since its economic meltdown?

Sep. 06, 2024 00:19 AM EDT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka will hold its presidential election on Sept. 21 in a crucial vote that will decide the future of the South Asian nation still struggling to recover from its economic collapse in 2022, which provoked mass protests and forced the former President Gotabaya...

39 candidates are approved for Sri Lanka's presidential election, the highest number ever

Aug. 15, 2024 11:35 AM EDT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s elections commission on Thursday accepted applications from a record 39 candidates to run in next month’s presidential election, which will decide the course of the country's financial reforms to survive an unprecedented economic crisis. ...

Bangladesh protests are not the first time student uprisings have helped bring about radical change

Aug. 12, 2024 01:05 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — In Bangladesh, weeks of protests against a quota system for government jobs turned into a broad uprising that forced the prime minister to flee the country and resign. The demonstrations began peacefully weeks ago and were primarily led by students frustrated with...

Heir apparent to Sri Lanka's powerful Rajapaksa family will run in September's presidential election

Aug. 08, 2024 01:18 AM EDT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The man who is considered the heir apparent to the powerful Rajapaksa family in Sri Lanka will contest the presidential election in September, his political party said Wednesday, in an apparent bid to regain his family's lost power after a humiliating setback two years...