COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s former ruling party strategist Basil Rajapaksa returned to the country from the United States in a move what analysts and his close sources see as a move to save the divided nationalist Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and navigate it in a future election.

Rajapaksa, the former finance minister who also holds US citizenship, left the country in September after Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court granted permission for him to travel overseas until January 15, 2023. He sought foreign travel for medical treatment and to attend to some personal matters.

“He has returned at a crucial juncture after the SLPP has divided into many. He will reorganize the party to prepare and win any election in the future,” an SLPP source said, asking not to be named.

Another SLPP source said he returned sooner than expected to Sri Lanka after the party’s division.

Rajapaksa did not respond to queries raised on his return.

The former finance minister, who resigned from his Parliament post in June this year, is sued as one of the many respondents in a fundamental rights case in which he along with many former government officials are alleged as being responsible for the unprecedented economic crisis.

Basil Rajapaksa is the younger brother of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Both Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa were forced to resign from their posts within two month due to public protests against the SLPP and then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to failed economic policies that led to shortage of dollars, fuel, cooking gas, and medicines.

Since former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned, the SLPP has fragmented at least into four factions and many of the remaining SLPP members have been contemplating options to join other parties due to lower winning possibility under the SLPP, analysts say.

“He comes because probably Mahinda Rajapaksa wants him and Mahinda can’t play any role now,” Kusal Perera, a political columnist for a local newspaper said.

“He is coming for a reconciliatory role in the party and probably to provide a space for Rajapaksa’s family leadership. He is back because things have calmed down now and he could start the consolidation of party with the remaining people who are still with the party.”

However, analysts say there is uncertainty of an election in the near future because a majority in parliament do not want a general elections.

“Local government election has to be held after February after the one year extension. If the SLPP does not want a Parliament poll, the party and Basil Rajapaksa will have to back President Ranil Wickremesighe. Otherwise he can call for a snap poll after February,” Perera said.

-economynext.com