Basil Rajapaksa
{{Short description|Sri Lankan politician (born 1951)}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Sri Lankan English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Basil Rajapaksa
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|si|බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ }}
{{lang|ta|பசில் ராஜபக்ஷ}}}}
| honorific-suffix =
| constituency_MP =
| parliament = Sri Lanka
| image = Basil Rajapaksa.JPG
| caption =
| order =
| office = Minister of Finance
| term_start = 8 July 2021
| term_end = 3 April 2022
| president = Gotabaya Rajapaksa
| primeminister = Mahinda Rajapaksa
| predecessor = Mahinda Rajapaksa
| successor = Ali Sabry
| order1 =
| office1 = Minister of Economic Development
| term_start1 = 22 April 2010
| term_end1 = 9 January 2015
| president1 = Mahinda Rajapaksa
| primeminister1 = D. M. Jayaratne
| predecessor1 = Office Established
| successor1 = Ranil Wickremesinghe
| constituency_MP2 = Gampaha District
| parliament2 = Sri Lanka
| term_start2 = 22 April 2010
| term_end2 = 26 June 2015
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| majority2 = 425,861 Preferential Votes
| constituency_MP3 = National List
| parliament3 = Sri Lanka
| term_start3 = 8 July 2021
| term_end3 = 9 June 2022
| predecessor3 = Jayantha Ketagoda
| successor3 = Dhammika Perera
| term_start4 = 19 September 2007
| term_end4 = 9 February 2010
| predecessor4 = Mohamed Ismail Anwar Ismail
| successor4 =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|4|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Dominion of Ceylon
| nationality = Sri Lankan
| citizenship = Sri Lankan
American{{cite news |title=I have not renounced my US citizenship – Basil Rajapaksa |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/11/13/i-have-not-renounced-my-us-citizenship-basil-rajapaksa/ |publisher=Newsfirst.lk}}
| party = Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
{{Infobox person |child = yes
}}
| spouse = Pushpa Rajapaksa
| children = Thejani, Bimalka and Ashantha
| alma_mater = Isipathana College
Ananda College
| occupation =
| profession =
| signature =
| residence =
| website = {{URL|http://basilrajapaksa.com/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Basil Rajapaksa (born 27 April 1951) is a Sri Lankan-American politician. He is a former Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for the national list.
He was also a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament from 2007 to 2015. During the period of 2005–2010 he served as a presidential senior advisor for President Mahinda Rajapaksa and in 2007 he was appointed as a member of parliament from the national list. He was the Cabinet minister for Economic Development{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/3305-cabinet-being-sworn-in.html|title=New Cabinet sworn in|access-date=23 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425012309/http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/3305-cabinet-being-sworn-in.html|archive-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead}} in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term (2010–2015). In the 2010 parliamentary election, he was elected from Gampaha district by receiving the highest number of preferential votes in Sri Lanka. He entered the parliament again from the national list and was appointed the Finance Minister during which he was accused of extreme negligence and mismanagement resulting in the worsening of the Sri Lankan economic crisis and was ultimately forced to resign under increasing protests by general public in the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis. He resigned his seat in parliament on 9 June 2022.{{Cite web |title=Sri Lankan economic crisis: Ex-finance minister Basil Rajapaksa quits amid protest |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2022/jun/09/sri-lankan-economic-crisisex-finance-minister-basil-rajapaksa-quits-amid-protest-2463621.html |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=The New Indian Express}}
Family
He hails from a well-known political family in the southern part of Sri Lanka. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, was a prominent politician, independence agitator, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake's government. He is a younger brother of the former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was the secretary for the defence ministry in the Mahinda Rajapaksa's government. Furthermore, his older brother Chamal served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2010–2015).
He had his secondary education at Isipathana College and Ananda College, both located in Colombo.
Political career
At the 1977 General Elections, he contested Mulkirigala Electorate from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party but was defeated.[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1977.pdf 1977 Parliamentary Elections Results] {{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. He was the youngest SLFP candidate that contested in this election. In the 1977 election, only 8 members managed to win from the SLFP. Basil Rajapaksa later worked with the first executive President J.R. Jayewardene and joined the United National Party,[http://www.nation.lk/2007/09/23/mynation.htm Can Basil rescue Mahinda’s sinking ship?]. He made this decision to join the UNP due to some infighting within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Although he was with JR Jayawardana, he openly supported his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa. While he was in UNP he became very close to the minister Gamini Dissanayake. When SLFP and coalition parties won the 1994 he actively assisted Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 1997 his wife won the US green card lottery and migrated to the USA with his family. He frequently visited Sri Lanka, especially whenever there were elections.
During the 2005 Presidential election campaign, he actively worked for his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa's victory and became an advisor for the President. In 2007 he was appointed as a national list member for the Sri Lankan parliament. When the 2010 parliamentary election was announced Basil contested the Gampaha district. As the district leader, he gained over 400,000 votes and became a member of the Parliament who obtained the highest number of preferential votes from the district.
In 2021 Basil Rajapaksa returned to the parliament from the national list{{cite news |title=Basil Rajapaksa's name gazetted as National List MP |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/75212/basil-rajapaksas-name-gazetted-as-national-list-mp |access-date=5 April 2022 |work=adaderana.lk |language=en}} and was appointed Finance Minister.{{cite news |title=Basil Rajapaksa sworn-in as Finance Minister – Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka |url=https://www.presidentsoffice.gov.lk/index.php/2021/07/08/basil-rajapaksa-sworn-in-as-finance-minister/?lang=en |access-date=5 April 2022}} During his time as minister Sri Lanka had entered an economic crisis but Rajapaksa began avoiding parliament sessions for months. The Opposition complained that pressing economic matters could not be discussed due to his absence.{{cite news |last1=Nadeera |first1=Dilshan |title=Basil doesn't come to Parliament – Mano Ganeshan |url=https://island.lk/basil-doesnt-come-to-parliament-mano-ganeshan/ |access-date=5 April 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Weerasooriya |first1=Sahan |title=Basil's silence for three months amidst dire economic situation causes uproar in Parliament for second day |url=https://island.lk/basils-silence-for-three-months-amidst-dire-economic-situation-causes-uproar-in-parliament-for-second-day/ |access-date=5 April 2022}} Other government MPs were also critical of his behaviour with Udaya Gammanpila, the energy minister claiming that Basil Rajapaksa refused to accept that an economic crisis was growing and that he knew nothing about his subject.{{Cite news |last=Mashal |first=Mujib |last2=Gunasekara |first2=Skandha |date=14 May 2022 |title=A Ruling Family on the Run as Sri Lanka Plunges Into Economic Ruin |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/14/world/asia/sri-lanka-rajapaksa.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |issn=0362-4331}}
Rajapakasa finally attended parliament on 5 April after an absence of four months and after being forced to resign after a series of protests against the government.{{cite news |title=Basil Rajapaksa finally attends Parliament after 4 months |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/latest_news/Basil-Rajapaksa-finally-attends-Parliament-after-4-months/342-234552 |access-date=5 April 2022 |work=Daily Mirror |location=Sri Lanka |language=English}}
In 2022, following the nationwide protests, Sri Lanka's ruling Rajapakasa family attempted to flee the country. On 11 July, Rajapakasa's attempt to leave through the VIP terminal at Colombo International Airport failed after a standoff with airport immigration staff, who refused to board him.{{cite news |last1=Kumar Bose |first1=Saikat |title=Lanka Ex Minister Basil Rajapaksa's Dubai Escape Dashed By Flyers: Sources |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sri-lankas-ex-minister-basil-rajapaksa-tried-to-flee-passengers-objected-sources-3149307 |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=NDTV.com |publisher=NDTV |date=12 July 2022}}
He would later successfully leave the country to the United States. On 22 November he returned to Sri Lanka and despite not being an MP or holding any government position he was allowed to use the VIP lounge of Colombo Airport and was given a police escort. In addition he used the Gold Route Service at the BIA which costs over US$200 per person when the VIP service is used and over a hundred SLPP members were seen eating food from the lounge waiting for Basil Rajapaksa to arrive.{{cite news |last1=Weerasooriya |first1=Sahan |title=Special treatment accorded to Basil at BIA comes in for condemnation |url=https://island.lk/special-treatment-accorded-to-basil-at-bia-comes-in-for-condemnation/ |access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite news |title=No payment made by Basil to use VIP arrival lounge at BIA |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front_page/No-payment-made-by-Basil-to-use-VIP-arrival-lounge-at-BIA/238-249070 |access-date=23 November 2022 |work=Daily Mirror |location=Sri Lanka |language=English}}
Personal life
He is married to Pushpa Rajapaksa and has three children.{{Cite web|title=Pushpa Rajapaksa's China funded Sri Lanka NGO now a boutique hotel. {{!}} Sri Lanka Brief|url=https://srilankabrief.org/2018/07/pushpa-rajapaksas-china-funded-sri-lanka-ngo-now-a-boutique-hotel/|access-date=2021-01-18|language=en-US}}
Corruption allegations
Rajapaksa is accused{{Cite web|url=https://www.hirunews.lk/185515/බැසිල්ගේ-මල්වානේ-ඉඩමේ-නඩුව-මැයි-7-දක්වා-කල්-යයි|title=බැසිල්ගේ මල්වානේ ඉඩමේ නඩුව මැයි 7 දක්වා කල් යයි|website=Hiru News|accessdate=26 December 2022}} of many corruption scandals, and he is under investigation for corruption and abuse of state assets.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32410003|title=Sri Lanka ex-leader's brother Basil Rajapaksa arrested|date=22 April 2015|work=BBC News|access-date=19 March 2017}} He gained a reputation as "Mr. Ten Percent" due to the allegations of taking commissions from government contracts.{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka's all-powerful Rajapaksas under fire |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220401-sri-lanka-s-all-powerful-rajapaksas-under-fire |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=France 24 |date=1 April 2022 |language=en}}
In 2016, the court ordered authorities to auction a luxury villa and {{convert|6.5|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of land in Malwana, which is allegedly owned by Rajapaksa.{{Cite news|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/basil-loses-his-125-million-worth-luxury-villa-in-malwana/|title=Basil Loses His 240 Million Worth Luxury Villa in Malwana|work=Colombo Telegraph|access-date=19 March 2017}} The house and land have not been auctioned and a court case is still ongoing in respect to this allegation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Court-stops-auction-on-Basil-s-alleged-land-in-Malwana-125826.html|title = Court stops auction on Basil's alleged land in Malwana – Breaking News | Daily Mirror}}
One of the accusations that the current government made was the misappropriation of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Development Department. Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID), a police division that was established to punish the supporters of the previous government, filed charges against Rajapaksa. There are several court cases where some citizens of Sri Lanka have challenged the legality of the FCID.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150607/news/fcid-illegal-therefore-whole-process-not-lawful-say-counsel-152058.html|title = FCID illegal, therefore whole process not lawful, say counsel | the Sunday Times Sri Lanka}}
S. B. Dissanayake, the Minister for Social Empowerment and Welfare has stated: "The pipes were purchased according to due tender process, the purchased pipes were duly delivered the pradeshiya sabhas. The pradeshiya sabhas need pipes – for temple functions, funerals, when a minister is visiting – they need pipes for all of this."{{Cite news|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sb-defends-basil-over-divi-neguma-case/|title=SB Defends Basil Over Divi Neguma Case|date=10 August 2016|work=Colombo Telegraph|access-date=2018-08-03|language=en-US}}
He has misused funds in a construction project while he was the Minister of Economic Development under his brother's government.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32410003|title = Sri Lanka ex-leader's brother Basil Rajapaksa arrested|work = BBC News|date = 22 April 2015}}
On 14 November 2023, following a case filed by filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) and other four activists, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka found Rajapaksa, his brothers Mahinda and Gotabaya and several other officials guilty of economic mismanagement between 2019 and 2022, and ordered them to pay about $450 (150,000 rupees) in legal costs to the petitioners.{{cite news |date=14 November 2023 |title=Sri Lanka top court rules Rajapaksa brothers guilty of economic crisis |publisher=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231114-sri-lanka-top-court-rules-rajapaksa-brothers-guilty-of-economic-crisis |access-date=14 November 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=2272 Business Today: Basil Rajapaksa The Force Unseen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418110557/http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=2272 |date=18 April 2011 }}
- [http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen3086.html The Rajapaksa Ancestry]
- [https://www.parliament.lk/en/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/1575 Parliament profile]
{{Members of 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the Sri Lankan Parliament from Gampaha}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajapaksa, Basil}}
Category:Alumni of Ananda College
Category:Alumni of Isipathana College
Category:Cabinet ministers of Sri Lanka
Category:Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka
Category:Members of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka
Category:Members of the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Sri Lanka
Category:Sri Lankan prisoners and detainees