The May 2022 renaissance that never was

It has been two years since the historic events of May 2022. After just two years of the disastrous Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration the people of the country forced the mighty Rajapaksa edifice to collapse. The first monumental event of this was the resignation of prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa from office on 9 May 2022 and his fleeing to the Trincomalee naval base for safety.

On that day several hundred people identifying themselves as supporters of the Government advanced to the Galle Face Green, where protesters calling for the resignation of the Government have been peacefully camped for several weeks. The instigators first gathered at Temple Trees, the official residence of the prime minister and were riled up by several speeches by regime loyalists. As the news spread that the peaceful protestors at Galle Face were being attacked, hundreds of people came out in support of the beleaguered protesters. It was then the turn of the thugs to face mob justice. Throughout the country angry mobs stormed the houses and properties of Rajapaksa loyalists despite a state of emergency and police curfew. By the end of the day, five individuals including a Government Member of Parliament were dead and over 150 others injured.

This marked the beginning of the end for the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. With his brother resigning as prime minister and no takers for the post from the ruling party he desperately turned to any one from the opposition to take over the reigns of Government. Opposition leaders represented in Parliament, including Ranil Wickremesinghe who had a single seat agreed not to take up the offer which was expected to force Rajapaksa to change the Constitution, abolishing the executive presidency.

This consensus is now refuted by the current President and his acolytes who wish to project him as a saviour who stepped in when others refused. The consensus mooted by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka was envisioned to seize the momentum created by the Aragalaya to introduce systemic change to the governance structure of the country. The mood in the country was for systemic change, ending corruption and even power sharing with minority communities.

This once in a generation opportunity was destroyed by a single individual, who later went on to reap the benefits of the popular uprising after the ouster of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Today, none of the aspirations of the Aragalaya have been achieved. Corruption continues unabated. The same individuals who brought the country to its knees through mismanagement and corruption reign in power while others have been given political protection. Gotabaya Rajapaksa who had to flee the country like a thief at night is today well looked after by the current administration after his return. The Rajapaksa family and their cronies are not facing any legal challenges for their roles in bankrupting the economy nor their involvement in numerous human rights violations including killing of journalists, activists, and even personal opponents.

There is no longer talk of devolution, power sharing or correcting historical wrongs done to the minorities. Whatever spin doctrine is attempted, history will record the legacy of the betrayal of what could have been a Sri Lankan renaissance in May 2022.