Rajapaksa Family

What Sri Lanka’s political saga says about the country’s state of affairs

The past few weeks have thrown the Indian Ocean nation into political chaos as rival parties jockey for power. The constitutional crisis has put a spotlight on multiple political issues that have been simmering for a while.

Sri Lanka opposition supporters block roads over sluggish economy and polls

Protesters say they want the government to stop delaying provincial elections. However, the country's home minister argues the protests led by former president Rajapaksa are meant to draw attention away from a corruption probe into his family.

Police and politicians accused of joining Sri Lanka's anti-Muslim riots

The government declared a state of emergency for ten days and blocked access to social media as 11 mosques were torched and 200 Muslim-owned businesses destroyed in riots by Sinhalese mobs that left at least three people dead and around 20 wounded.

Sri Lanka hands over debt-laden port to Chinese owner

The announcement comes days after the International Monetary Fund approved the release of $251 million to Sri Lanka, the latest payment of a three-year loan.