One year after a popular uprising ousted its president, has Sri Lanka changed for the better?

An economic lifeline could ease foreign debt, soaring prices, and shortages of essential goods – but there is a human cost, experts tell Namita Singh

Demonstrators stormed Sri Lanka’s presidential palace (REUTERS)

It was an economic crisis that escalated into a dramatic popular uprising. Thousands of Sri Lankans took to the street, storming president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s palace and looting treasures.

Citizens from across the island nation of 22 million boarded buses and trains to descend on Colombo with chants of “Go home Gota” as they demanded Rajapaksa’s resignation amid soaring prices, shortages of essential goods, and crippling international debts.

One year on since Rajapaksa finally heeded their calls and stepped down, Sri Lanka is undoubtedly in a better economic position. But activists say growing political and financial stability have come at the cost of a slide in civil rights, incomes for the poorest in society and the long-term health of many, particularly women.