Colombo is set for a power shift. His main rival, the ruling coalition’s housing minister Sajith Premadasa, has conceded the election and congratulated Rajapaksa on his victory. The economic slump that followed – the island’s beaches are popular tourist hotspots – added to anti-incumbency forces against the ruling coalition. The protracted bickering and the intervention of the country’s apex court to reinstate Wickremesinghe left the regime wobbly. For India, the return of the Rajapaksas may not be good news, since they have a history of leaning China’s way.

Source: Mint November 17, 2019 08:26 UTC