evidence: Dissanayake is an outsider to the political core, on which the Rajapaksas had a vice-like grip. Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee in July 2022 after a popular uprising. His brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa had to resign as the prime minister just two months earlier. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took charge after Gotabaya was driven out, did so with the backing of the party of the Rajapaksas.