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ABC News
ABC News
Business
South Asia correspondent Avani Dias

The Rajapaksa family maintained an iron grip on power in Sri Lanka for decades. Then it started to unravel

Mahinda Rajapaksa (left) has stepped down amid escalating protests against his rule, but his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in power.  (AP: Eranga Jayawardena)

It was a moment that even a few months ago would have been inconceivable: The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, a member of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family, was forced to quit. 

Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation this week wasn't a routine toppling of a leader.

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