Author: The SSA

To laugh or cry?

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” was the first reaction I heard last Sunday evening when the news spread that President Sirisena had sworn in 26 ex-UPFA ministers in various ministerial capacities of his yahapalanaya government. The second response was also similar: ‘Is this what we voted Maithripala Sirisena in to power for?”… Continue reading To laugh or cry?

‘Extremism and Current Politics in India’ – A Talk by Prof. Amrita Basu

SSA hosted a talk by Dr. Amrita Basu on her forthcoming book Violent Conjunctures in Democratic India forthcoming as a Cambridge University Press publication. Professor Basu is affiliated to Amherst College, Massachusetts, USA where she has been teaching Political Science since 1981. Her research interests revolve around social movements, feminism, and religious nationalism, and she has published… Continue reading ‘Extremism and Current Politics in India’ – A Talk by Prof. Amrita Basu

Rebuilding Institutions in the Transition from Soft Authoritarianism

A political goal that warrants sustained attention of the new Sri Lankan government as well as the democratic reform constituencies is the rebuilding of public institutions of democratic governance, accountability, autonomy, and checks and balances. Democratic governance requires the presence of institutions of governance that are strong enough to withstand the pressures of authoritarian regimes… Continue reading Rebuilding Institutions in the Transition from Soft Authoritarianism

For a fresh beginning in Sri Lanka

A peaceful transfer of power without post-election violence, after a relatively peaceful campaign, is testimony to the resilience of Sri Lanka’s democracy after experiencing civil war and semi-authoritarianism Other than among the diehard supporters of the outgoing Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, there was no doubt about the victory of Maithripala Sirisena, the common Opposition… Continue reading For a fresh beginning in Sri Lanka

State and Governance Reforms after Elections

Reforming the state as well as the practices of governance is a major political theme in Sri Lanka’s current Presidential election campaign. The arguments for state reform are framed in the language of constitutional reform. The agenda for reform in governance is presented in the discourse of ‘good governance.’ It is the opposition alliance which… Continue reading State and Governance Reforms after Elections

Manifestos and the Political Pulse

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who just lost the support of the Muslim political parties this week, is facing political isolation of an unprecedented character. Unfortunately for the President, he has neither a political manifesto to help him, nor clever political strategy to back him in this crisis. Political violence appears to be on the rise. And… Continue reading Manifestos and the Political Pulse

Presidential Election, Desire for Change and the Hope for Democracy’s Survival

Less than two weeks more to the Presidential election, scheduled for January 08, 2015, the political temperature of the country is rising amidst incessant rain and unusually cold December weather. The signs are that violence may increase, for the simple reason that the stakes are quite high at this election. At present, there is a… Continue reading Presidential Election, Desire for Change and the Hope for Democracy’s Survival

Challenging a Regressive Regime

The anti-regime camp led by Maithripala Sirisena is posing the most significant challenge to the present regime. President Rajapaksa has never faced such a challenge. But this is his decisive struggle, he knows it and his opponents know it very well, too. It’s not that the Sinhala voters fail to acknowledge the leadership given by… Continue reading Challenging a Regressive Regime