by The SSA | Aug 20, 2015 | 2015, Analysis, Aug 2015
In this talk, I want to celebrate the idea of democracy. In its popular meaning, democracy refers to the rule of the demos, demos being the Greek word for people. This year in Sri Lanka, we have had two crucial moments – one in January and the second just the other...
by The SSA | Aug 19, 2015 | 2015, Analysis, Aug 2015
The parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka held risks of polarisation and the re-emergence of authoritarian politics. But the Lankan voters rejected divisive politics for the second time this year. The United National Party (UNP) will likely form the new government,...
by The SSA | Aug 13, 2015 | 2015, Analysis, Aug 2015
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...
by The SSA | Jun 24, 2015 | 2015, Analysis, Jun 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...
by The SSA | May 12, 2015 | 2015, Analysis, May 2015
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...
by The SSA | May 8, 2015 | 2015, Analysis, May 2015, Uncategorized
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...
