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Chinese 'spy ship' visit shows Rajapaksas still run Sri Lanka
Anyone who believes their power and influence on the island is over only needs to examine the circumstances of the visit by the Chinese tracking ship to the southernmost port of Hambantota – seat of the family’s political base.
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Workers wave China's and Sri Lanka's national flags upon the arrival of Chinese research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota port, on Aug 16, 2022.
PHOTO: AFP
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In the minds of most of the world, and indeed for millions of Sri Lankans, the Rajapaksa clan's grasp over the teardrop-shaped island nation ended with Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa's flight to the Maldives, then to Singapore, from where he resigned from the presidency. He is currently said to be in Thailand.
So unpopular is the family as a result of the current economic morass in Sri Lanka that it looks certain that no Rajapaksa - not even the victorious civil war president Mahinda, Mr Gotabaya's elder brother - can possibly dream of retaking power, at least for a while.
