Chief Government Whip and Minister Nalinda Jayathissa revealed that the SLPP - Ranil Wickremesinghe-led government has disbursed significant sums in compensation for damages incurred during the 2022 Araglaya in Sri Lanka, including millions of rupees to an astrologer close to the Rajapaksa clan.
According to Jayathissa, an additional Rs. 1,125 million was allocated to individuals whose houses were destroyed during the widespread anti-government protests that year. This comes on top of Rs. 1,221 million paid to politicians as compensation for damages to their properties.
However, the revelation that has sparked the most controversy is the payment of Rs. 28 million to Gnanakka, a prominent astrologer and witchcraft practitioner from Anuradhapura. Gnanakka is widely known for her alleged influence on former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whom she reportedly advised on both personal and political matters. Her Devalaya (a place of worship) in Anuradhapura was destroyed by mobs during the 2022 protests, and the government has now compensated her for the damage.
The year 2022 marked a period of unprecedented political and economic turmoil in Sri Lanka. Widespread protests erupted across the country, fueled by severe shortages of essential goods, skyrocketing inflation, and widespread anger over allegations of corruption and mismanagement by the Rajapaksa-led government. Protesters targeted government buildings, politicians' homes, and symbols of perceived corruption, including properties linked to individuals associated with the Rajapaksa regime.
Gnanakka’s Devalaya was among the properties destroyed during this period. Her association with Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was forced to resign in July 2022 amid the protests, made her a controversial figure. Critics accused her of wielding undue influence over the former president, with some even claiming that her astrological advice played a role in key policy decisions during his tenure.
During earlier reporting, it was said that the delay in imposing a lockdown during COVID was based on advice by Gnanakka.
“We don’t make decisions lightly,” Gotabaya Rajapaksa is reported to have said at a meeting on deciding the lockdown, sources said.
“It’s not like with other countries, the (Kandy) Perahera must be held with public participation according to Sri Lanka’s horoscope, says Gnana Maaniyo. The Perahera is going well so far. It is said that if the Perahera is not held, the “vas” (evil spirits) will impact me, as the leader of the country, I will become the sacrifice. Because of the Perahera, all the coronavirus deaths will be considered as sacrifices to the Goddess Kāli (Kā iAmma). They are sacrificing themselves for the future wellbeing and prosperity of the country,” Rajapaksa reportedly claimed
Gnanakka's influence reportedly played a role in delaying any lockdown decision.
The Rajapaksa family has long been known for their close ties to certain soothsayers and occult practitioners, whose influence tends to rise whenever the brothers hold power. Known for their authoritarian style of governance, the war crimes accused family has often displayed a deep-seated fear of their own vulnerability and mortality. To counter perceived threats, they have frequently turned to trusted figures in the occult world, seeking charms and talismans believed to protect them from harm. For instance, during his time as president, Mahinda Rajapaksa was often seen carrying a golden sceptre, which was rumored to shield him from enemies and prevent an untimely demise.