-By Political Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -13.March.2025, 11.40 PM) Oh, the 13th of July 2022—what a historic day! A day when Sri Lanka saw its president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, do what most of his citizens could not: book a flight and leave. As angry protesters stormed the presidential palace, demanding accountability for economic collapse, Gotabaya responded in the most presidential way possible—by grabbing his wife, packing his bags, and fleeing to the Maldives.
A leader in exile? Hardly. This wasn’t a noble political exile; this was a man making a mad dash to the airport, leaving behind a country in chaos. But should he get away with it? That’s the real question.
Let’s rewind a bit. Before he was a president, before he was Sri Lanka’s all-powerful Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had a much humbler career. In fact, before he was responsible for military operations, he was responsible for filling gas tanks in a California petrol station. Yes, you read that right—before orchestrating military victories, he was handing out receipts and asking customers if they wanted a full tank or just ten bucks’ worth.
Then, of course, his brother happened. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the ultimate patron of political nepotism, decided that Gotabaya deserved a more exciting job title. And so, the former petrol clerk found himself as Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, overseeing the final stages of the 30-year civil war. The military did the job, but somehow, Gotabaya became the poster boy for victory—his previous experience handling volatile liquids must have come in handy.
Fast forward a decade, and the man, who was once making minimum wage in the U.S., was now running a country. Well, running might be an overstatement. More like running it into the ground.
Sri Lanka was facing one of its worst crises. The economy was tanking, inflation was skyrocketing, fuel shortages had citizens queuing for days, and protests were raging. The people, in their desperation, did something unimaginable—they stormed the presidential palace, demanding Gotabaya step down.
What did their leader do? Did he address the nation? Did he come up with an emergency recovery plan? Nope. He grabbed his passport and ran.
Not only did he run, but he left Sri Lanka in a political leadership vacuum. There was no proper transition, no clear instructions—just an empty chair where a president once sat. His abrupt departure left the government scrambling, creating confusion in administration, financial affairs, and national security.
This isn't just incompetence—it’s negligence. And negligence, when it comes to national leadership, deserves investigation and punishment. Gotabaya Rajapaksa must answer for why he abandoned his post during a crisis, leaving Sri Lanka to navigate a political and economic disaster on its own.
Now, let’s talk about another lingering question: Was Gotabaya even eligible to be Sri Lanka’s president in the first place?
Before contesting the elections, Gotabaya Rajapaksa claimed to have renounced his U.S. citizenship. But to this day, the mystery remains—did the U.S. actually accept his renunciation?
For months, the Sri Lankan public asked for proof, and the U.S. State Department danced around the question. Then came Ali Sabry, Gotabaya’s lawyer-turned-Justice-Minister, who assured everyone that the renunciation was official. In a grand press conference, Sabry even waved around a passport to convince everyone. But was that proof, or was it just a glorified prop in the Rajapaksa political theatre?
If Gotabaya Rajapaksa was still a U.S. citizen when he became Sri Lanka’s president, then his entire presidency was unconstitutional. And if Ali Sabry knowingly misled the public, then he too has some explaining to do.
This issue cannot be ignored. The current Sri Lankan government must investigate whether Gotabaya was ever legally allowed to be president. If he wasn’t, then every decision made under his administration comes into question—including the economic policies that led to disaster.
Sri Lanka has a habit of moving on from political scandals. Leaders come and go, and accountability is rarely served. But this time, the stakes are too high. Gotabaya Rajapaksa didn’t just misgovern—he abandoned the country when it needed leadership the most. That is not just political failure; it is a dereliction of duty.
The government must investigate:
Why did Gotabaya Rajapaksa flee without ensuring a proper transition of power?
Was he still a U.S. citizen when he became president, and if so, was his presidency even legal?
Did Ali Sabry and other officials mislead the public about his citizenship status?
If these questions go unanswered, Sri Lanka will be setting a dangerous precedent—that a president can drive a country into ruin, flee the mess, and live comfortably in exile without consequences.
Will the current government take action, or will Gotabaya get away with the greatest political disappearing act in Sri Lankan history? The answer to that question will tell us everything about the future of accountability in Sri Lanka.
-By Political Correspondent
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by (2025-03-13 19:03:52)
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