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June 2015

Democratization and Reform in South Asia: Lessons from Sri Lanka

I have been invited to speak this afternoon on lessons from Sri Lanka relevant to South Asia. In this talk, I will try to explore a theme that also reflects my own intellectual dilemmas that trouble me at present. You may find that the key conceptual categories I employ in this talk still remain under-defined.… Continue reading Democratization and Reform in South Asia: Lessons from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Political Weather Analysis: June 2015

Political Weather Analysis (PWA) aims to provide a Polaroid snapshot of Sri Lankans’ positions and opinions on current political developments. PWA is a survey conducted among 1,500 households across all the electoral districts in the country. The survey was conducted during the first week of June 2015, with the participation of about 80 highly trained… Continue reading Sri Lanka Political Weather Analysis: June 2015

Nirmal, Maithri and Mahinda –The three who made the past week

Three events dominated Sri Lanka’s most recent political developments and debates. The May Day mob attack on Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri and Dr. Kumudu Kusum Kumara is the first. The intensification of the campaign to bring former President Mahinda Rajapaksa back is the second. The meeting between the present and former presidents is the third.… Continue reading Nirmal, Maithri and Mahinda –The three who made the past week

19A & the continuing power-struggle

As the 100-day programme was coming to an end, President Maithripala Sirisena confronted a significant challenge. It was about showing the people that he still was the executive president. A significant part of this challenge was about getting his pet project, the proposed 19th Amendment which sought to reduce his powers, passed in Parliament. In… Continue reading 19A & the continuing power-struggle

Beyond Uncertainty of Current Politics

Reporting on Sri Lanka’s current political situation can be quite exciting. However, commenting on it is difficult and hazardous. The reason is simple. The current politics in our country is in flux. Events appear and disappear so rapidly and unexpectedly that identifying any patterns and regularities in the political process, which are so crucial for… Continue reading Beyond Uncertainty of Current Politics

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Jaathika Anduwa Some Reflective Thoughts

One of the most interesting themes to have emerged in the present political debate in Sri Lanka is the idea of Jaathika Anduwa, or National Government. The concept of National Government is not a new one. The credit for its retrieval in the current political context of Sri Lanka goes to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.… Continue reading Jaathika Anduwa Some Reflective Thoughts

Electoral Reforms: some critical reflections

Sri Lanka’s current debate on electoral reforms seems to be heading towards a politically inspired deadlock. Some powerful sections of the SLFP seems to be using the idea of electoral reforms either as a bargaining tool for some short-term political gains, or to checkmate the constitutional reform initiative aimed at changing the executive presidential system.… Continue reading Electoral Reforms: some critical reflections