2022 Sri Lankan political crisis

The 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis was a political crisis in Sri Lanka due to the power struggle between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka. It was fueled by the anti-government protests and demonstrations by the public due to the economic crisis in the country. The anti-government sentiment across various parts of Sri Lanka has triggered a state of political instability that is unprecedented in the nation's history.

2022 Sri Lankan political crisis
Part of the Sri Lankan economic crisis
and the 2022 Sri Lankan protests
Protesters protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat
Date3rd April 2022 – November 2022
Location
Sri Lanka
Caused by
Status
  • President Gotabaya Rajapaksa refuses to step down despite calls from protestors and opposition to impeach the President.
  • Gotabaya forms a temporary 4-member cabinet on 3 April 2022.
  • The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, led by its party leader Sajith Premadasa, has called for a no-confidence motion against the government.
  • PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his position on 9 May 2022.
  • President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new PM on 12 May 2022.
  • On 9 July, Rajapaksa announces his intention to resign as President of Sri Lanka on 13 July 2022.
  • Rajapaksa flees the country on 13 July, fails to resign as pledged, and designates Wickremesinghe Acting President in his absence.
  • Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives in Singapore and resigns as President via e-mail on 14 July.
  • Ranil Wickremesinghe is elected as the President by the Parliament on 20 July.
Lead figures

Gotabaya Rajapaksa
(President of Sri Lanka)
Mahinda Rajapaksa
(Prime Minister of Sri Lanka until his resignation on 9 May 2022)

Non-centralized leadership

The political crisis began on 3 April 2022, after all 26 members of the Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet with the exception of Prime Minister Rajapaksa resigned en masse overnight. Critics said the resignation was not valid as they did not follow the constitutional protocol and thus deemed it a "sham", and several were reinstated in different ministries the next day. There were even growing calls on forming a caretaker government to run the country or for snap elections, but the latter option was deemed unviable due to paper shortages and concerns over election expenditure, which would often cost in billions.

Protestors have taken to streets to show their anger and displeasure over the mismanagement of the economy by the government and the protestors urged the President Gotabaya to immediately step down for a political change; he refused to do so, later eventually fleeing to Singapore and resigning on 14 July. Main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya had determined to abolish the 20th amendment by bringing a private members Bill in order to scrap the executive powers of Executive Presidency.

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