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A political reckoning in Sri Lanka as debt crisis grows

Sri Lankans protest keeping a coffin with a slogan in Sinhalese that reads " the death of state sovereignty" during an ongoing protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A man walks past a poster that shows a cartooned portrait of prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa displayed on the fence of president's office during an ongoing protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankans protest as disfigured portraits of Rajapaksa family members are seen in a banner behind during an ongoing protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Portraits of people who were allegedly killed by government forces are displayed at an ongoing protest site outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A Buddhist monk listens to an anti-government speech during the ongoing protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, April 25, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

People protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Demonstrators carrying a coffin during an ongoing protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

People march shouting slogans against the government outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

People gather at an ongoing protest site outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A man shouts slogans demanding the government step down during an ongoing protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, April 18, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

People protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, April 20, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A disfigured portrait of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen at an ongoing protest site outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

FILE - Mahinda Rajapaksa, left, and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa wave to supporters during a party convention held to announce the presidential candidacy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Aug. 11, 2019. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. With the island teetering near bankruptcy, the protests highlight the dramatic fall of the Rajapaksas from the most influential political dynasty to a family grasping to retain power. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

People protest with a coffin with a slogan in Sinhalese that reads " the death of state sovereignty" during an ongoing protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

People shout slogans against the government during an ongoing protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Thousands of Sri Lankans have protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in recent weeks, demanding that he and his brother, Mahinda, who is prime minister, quit for leading the island into its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A political reckoning in Sri Lanka as debt crisis grows