Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet
The second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet was the central government of Sri Lanka led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It was formed in August 2020 after the parliamentary election and ended in April 2022 after all 26 cabinet ministers resigned en masse amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan protests.
Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet
Image: Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Image: The former President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa meeting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on September 12, 2018 (cropped)
Image: Dullas Alahapperuma Glo Cha Klagenfurt 2014 9799 2
The 2022 Sri Lankan protests, commonly known as Aragalaya, were a series of mass protests that began in March 2022 against the government of Sri Lanka. The government was heavily criticized for mismanaging the Sri Lankan economy, which led to a subsequent economic crisis involving severe inflation, daily blackouts, and a shortage of fuel, domestic gas, and other essential goods. The protesters' main demand was the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and key officials from the Rajapaksa family. Despite the involvement of several opposition parties, most protesters considered themselves to be apolitical, with many expressing discontent with the parliamentary opposition. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Go Home Gota", "Go Home Rajapaksas", and "Aragalayata Jaya Wewa". Most protests were organized by the general public, with youths playing a major part by carrying out protests at Galle Face Green.
Sri Lankans protesting in front of the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on 13 April
Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe