South Asia's turn to illiberal democracy

In Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa brothers' return confirms region's autocratic drift

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20191118 SRI LANKA-ELECTION/

Special Task Force soldiers stand guard as supporters of Sri Lankan President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa celebrate in Colombo on Nov. 17. © Reuters

The return of the Rajapaksa brothers to power in Sri Lanka drew delighted cheers from their Buddhist nationalist supporters this weekend. But it should bring a shudder of alarm from those concerned for the island's future.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the nation's wartime defense chief, emerged as a comfortable winner on Sunday after a presidential poll on Saturday marked by deep ethnic divisions -- signaling a likely return to the autocratic style favored by his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served as president from 2005 to 2015.

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