Mahinda Rajapaksa

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Sri Lankans queue up near a fuel station to buy kerosene in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Sri Lanka is suspending its repayment of foreign debt, including bonds and government-to-government borrowings, pending the completion of a loan restructuring program with the International Monetary Fund to deal with the island nation's worst economic crisis in decades, the government said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka’s prime minister offers to meet with protesters

By Krishan Francis and Eranga Jayawardena - Associated Press

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, right, hands over credentials to Namal Rajapaksa, elder son of prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa after appointing him as the country's sports minister during a ceremony in Kandy, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. Sri Lanka's president swore into office a new Cabinet on Wednesday that includes two of his elder brothers and a nephew, after a landslide election victory last week. (AP Photo)

3 Rajapaksas sworn into new Sri Lanka Cabinet after election

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa greets supporters following his election victory in the general election at his residence in Tangalle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The country's powerful Rajapaksa brothers secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, giving them nearly the two-thirds majority of seats required to make constitutional changes, according to results released Friday. Rajapaksa is likely to be sworn in the same position by his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after the vote that could strengthen dynastic rule in the Indian Ocean island nation. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Rajapaksa sworn in as PM in Sri Lanka, cementing family rule

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka says it will withdraw from UN rights resolution

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

In this Nov. 22, 2019, file photo, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, center, speaks with his Cabinet colleagues in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) ** FILE **

The early days of return to Rajapaksa rule in Sri Lanka aren’t encouraging

By Taylor Dibbert

Sandya Ekneligoda, the wife of abducted Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda addresses the media in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. Prageeth went missing in 2010 during the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the brother of current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Abducted Sri Lanka journalist’s wife: Military derails case

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Swiss decry ‘attack’ on local embassy employee in Sri Lanka

Associated Press

FILE- In this May 23, 2008 file photo, Sri Lankan journalists shout slogans during a protest demanding the government investigate into abduction and assault of fellow journalist Keith Noyahr in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Forced to flee their country a decade ago to escape allegedly state-sponsored killer squads, Sri Lankan journalists living in exile doubt they’ll be able to return home soon or see justice served to their tormentors _ whose alleged ringleader could come to power in this weekend’s presidential election. Exiled journalists and media rights groups are expressing disappointment over the current government’s failure in punishing the culprits responsible for crimes committed against media members. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lankan journalists fear situation may worsen after vote

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan presidential candidate and former defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaks during a news conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. Rajapaksa, who's a front-runner in next month's presidential election says if he wins he won't recognize an agreement the government made with the U.N. human rights council to investigate alleged war crimes during the nation's civil war. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka presidential hopeful says won’t honor deal with UN

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka presidential hopeful vows to bolster intelligence

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Supporters of Sri Lankan presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, celebrate following a court decision in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. A Sri Lankan court has dismissed a case seeking the cancellation of the citizenship of presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa, clearing the way for him to register as a candidate in a November election. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka court allows candidate to keep citizenship

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka presidential candidate’s citizenship challenged

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 file photo, Sri Lanka's disputed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa folds his hands in prayer as he is blessed by a Buddhist monk after signing his resignation paper in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Members of Sri Lanka's Parliament on Tuesday questioned whether Rajapaksa, who recently quit as prime minister, can hold his seat after earlier relinquishing membership in the political party that he represented in the last election. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan lawmakers question Rajapaksa’s parliamentary seat

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 29,2018, file photo, Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, gestures as he arrives for a meeting with his supporting lawmakers at the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan lawmaker said that the disputed Prime Minister Rajapaksa will resign Saturday to end the country's political crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka’s disputed prime minister resigns to end impasse

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Rajapaksa set to quit as Sri Lanka’s premier to end crisis

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Supporters of ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrate outside the supreme court complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Sri Lanka's Supreme Court unanimously ruled as unconstitutional President Maithripala Sirisena's order to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections, a much-anticipated verdict Thursday that further embroils the Indian Ocean island nation in political crisis.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

AP Explains: Why is Sri Lankan prime minister resigning

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Supporters of ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrate outside the supreme court complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Sri Lanka's Supreme Court unanimously ruled as unconstitutional President Maithripala Sirisena's order to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections, a much-anticipated verdict Thursday that further embroils the Indian Ocean island nation in political crisis.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka Supreme Court says president violated constitution

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Fitch downgrades Sri Lanka’s rating

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

FILE- In this Nov. 3, 2018 file photo, Sri Lanka's then appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa speaks to members loyal to him at his office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan court has stayed disputed Prime Minister Rajapaksa and his ministers from holding their positions as it hears an appeal against them. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka court orders prime minister to refrain from duties

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Empty seats of Sri Lanka's ruling party members are seen during a parliamentary session in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Sri Lankan lawmakers on Thursday approved a motion barring disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa from using state funds after he lost two no-confidence votes, in an escalation of the country's political crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan Parliament bars ministers using state funds

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press