Sri Lanka’s Elusive Democratic Renewal

Photo courtesy of HRW The year 2024 was a watershed for Sri Lanka with two national elections held in quick succession: a presidential poll in September and parliamentary elections in November. These were the first national contests conducted against the backdrop of a deep economic crisis and the mass citizen movement known as the aragalaya, which demanded sweeping political and economic change. Uniting Sri Lankans across class, ethnic and religious lines, the movement marked a rare moment of collective action against corruption, nepotism and economic mismanagement. The NPP party, a left-leaning political alliance, captured the public’s imagination with its manifesto,…

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