On November 16th, 2019, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins with a majority vote (52.25%) and is elected as the President of Sri Lanka. Shortly after the elections, Gotabaya announces the appointment of his brother and former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as his Finance Minister and Deputy Head of State.³

The 2019 elections spark fear within the Tamil and Muslim communiites, who face decades of oppression by the state. Minority communities fear that this presidency could result in further human rights violations and state-oppression, as the brothers who were in power during the Mullivaikkal massacre are back.