They were formerly regarded as national heroes, even mythological warrior-king commanders who vanquished separatists in a violent civil war.
The latter days of Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa dynasty, however, portray a quite different story.
Embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Sri Lanka in the early hours of Wednesday, days after thousands of enraged demonstrators stormed into his official mansion, swam in his pool, and demanded he go.
He was due to retire later that day, but Gotabaya Rajapaksa didn’t wait till then. Instead, before morning, he boarded a military plane leaving Colombo, the country’s commercial city, and escaped to the Maldives.
His departure is a historic moment for the island nation of 22 million, which the Rajapaksas had ruled with an iron fist for much of the past two decades before losing the faith of their once adoring citizens.
“The sight of Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing Sri lanka on an air force plane represents (the downfall) of this family,” said Ganeshan Wignaraja, senior research associate at the British think tank, ODI Global.
“Their legacy I don’t think is a positive one. But one hopes that Sri Lanka will move on in a new direction.”
With jubilant Sri Lankans still swimming in the presidential pool, singing in the presidential dining room and dancing around the opulent presidential grounds, it is clear many share that optimism — at least for now.
What happens during the next 24 hours will do much to determine the country’s future, with Rajapaksa’s long-term intentions remaining as yet unclear.
