The political situation in Sri Lanka is rapidly intensifying. The society is demanding a higher social status in comparison to the rest of the world and is taking action to achieve it. In the past, the people of Sri Lanka have struggled to gain their freedom, democracy, rights, and development.
Due to their strong demand for these benefits, a massive people’s struggle took place in the country, which led to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa resigning from his position and fleeing the country to save his life.
On 14 July 2022, Gotabhaya informed the Government of Sri Lanka of his resignation in writing.Following his resignation, the only MP seat held by the United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe, became the President.
Currently, the Sri Lankan society is patiently waiting while suffering the negative consequences of the severe economic crisis. The future of Sri Lankan politics is determined by the decisions the people make in this context.
The people are fed up with the family system
It appears that Sri Lanka has mainly had a family-oriented political process. The Senanayakes, JR Jayawardena, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Bandaranaike family, and Rajapaksa family have all taken turns ruling the country since independence.
However, there have been a few exceptions. R. Premadasa, DB Wijetunga, and Maithripala Sirisena have also been presidents. Premadasa’s rule lasted for only three years before he was killed in a terrorist attack.
After his death, DB Wijetunga took over for the remainder of his term and retired after serving for a year and a half. Maithripala Sirisena, who won the 2015 presidential election, ruled for five years but faced various issues during his tenure.
Even though Sri Lanka is celebrating its 76th Independence Day, it’s worth noting that the current government is led by Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is JR Jayawardene’s son-in-law and has ruled the country for 12 years. It’s evident that Sri Lanka’s ruling power has been held by four families for almost 65 years after independence.
People want change
It appears that there is a growing effort to change the current political situation in Sri Lanka. The goal is to establish a new political culture that prioritises independence and liberty. This desire for change was evident in recent struggles.
However, it is clear that not all demands from the struggle have been met. Additionally, the appointment of a president without actual power seems to have been part of a plan that used constitutional processes to protect familyist regimes.
Nevertheless, Sri Lankan society seems to be more vigilant and politically aware than before. They are not giving politicians the same level of recognition they used to receive.
For instance, they are not standing up to honour a member of parliament when they enter a room or allow them to speak at ceremonies.
Today’s society is less interested in listening to politicians, and they have lost faith in them. Simply put, politicians have become unaccountable.
People demanding freedom and democracy
It is essential to hold parliamentary and presidential elections this year. This is crucial for the creation of a political situation where freedom and democracy take precedence. Economic freedom is also strongly presented in this.
People demand an environment where they can live with the money they receive. This includes education, health, nutrition, food, entertainment, and mental relief.
The current President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, will contest the next presidential election. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s force, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and the United National Party, along with the parties and organisations that have governed together with them until now, will dedicate themselves to his victory.
The opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, represents a strong political current in Sri Lanka. He left the United National Party to form the Samagi Janabalawegaya party. Both parties operate through liberal economic policies, and it is clear that they share the same policies.
The prominent political current
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is becoming a significant political force in the country thanks to its ability to attract people through stable political activism.
They have introduced a new political model called the Jathika Jana Balavegaya (National People’s Power) which has won over civil groups, organisations, youth representatives, intellectuals, professionals, and others with different opinions from socialist policies.
By building a national mass force, they have created a gateway to bring everyone together.
This situation has provided people with a new experience and has sparked interest in those who are not familiar with the policies of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or have no knowledge of socialism.
As a result, the members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna who speak to the people are gaining approval, and the party is advancing.
Government of India invitation
The recent visit of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya(NPP) to India has sparked an intense debate in Sri Lankan politics and caused some upheaval in the political parties that have been in power until now.
The presence of both parties during this trip, as per the invitation of the Government of India, has further complicated the situation. It is also a topic of discussion in Sri Lankan society as to why the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a political party that has strongly criticised Indian intervention in the past, is now receiving significant recognition from India.
Indian Foreign Minister’s announcement
Anura Kumara Dissanayake and MP Vijitha Herath went on a 5-day visit to India. On the first day, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with them.
After their discussion, the Indian Foreign Minister mentioned on his social media account that he had a productive conversation with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) members about Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations and economic challenges.
This surprised other political parties in Sri Lanka who did not expect the Indian Foreign Minister to react so quickly, and they criticised the meeting.
During the meeting, they discussed Sri Lanka’s economic challenges and future activities. India pledged to be a loyal friend and trusted partner of Sri Lanka, prioritising the neighbour and the Indian Ocean Priority Maritime Initiative to ensure India’s peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
It’s worth noting that the National People’s Power (NPP), a political party in Sri Lanka, has moved away from socialist politics and entered a social democratic political stream to gain power in the country.
It raises the question of whether the Indian government’s assumption that any transformation can take place in Sri Lanka has caused this activity.
The Indian media reported that the Indian government invited the leadership of the NPP for an official visit, which will take place in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.
The discussions will involve government officials, the business community, as well as the agricultural and industrial sectors. Both countries have also shown special publicity regarding Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit.
An assurance of no Indian objection
The National People’s Power has denied having an anti-Indian attitude, despite claims to the contrary. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, a Member of Parliament for the party, stated that Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India was not a coincidence.
“We are not against any country,” said Amarasuriya. “We only oppose decisions that harm our country. It’s not anti-Indian. Whatever the relationship may be, if it’s harmful to the country, we oppose it.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister, Ali Sabri, believes that it’s normal for political representatives to visit other countries for discussions. He recently met with the Foreign Secretary of the Labor Party in London.
“It’s good for the JVP to have friendly relations with a country like India,” Sabri said. “India is a huge country, and it’s good that they understand the real situation in India, their political opinions, geopolitical activities, and interventions. I see it as a positive thing.”
Wimal Weerawansa, a former publicity secretary of the JVP and a powerful minister in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna government, believes that it’s not worth discussing the JVP’s visit to India. He has previously stated that the party is not capable of solving the country’s problems.
Indian activism and the rise of JVP
At the moment, it is difficult to assess whether the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is succeeding or failing in its efforts to provide solutions to Sri Lanka’s problems.
However, it is evident that Sri Lankan society is gradually shifting towards an alternative way of thinking. With this transition, it cannot be assumed that JVP may not be the people’s preferred choice. Ultimately, it is up to the people to identify the best option that can effectively address the challenges faced by Sri Lanka.
Despite some confusion surrounding the increased attention given to JVP, it is becoming increasingly apparent that traditional politicians and political parties in Sri Lanka are worried about this trend.
The intense public interest in JVP, which has been further amplified by recent diplomatic talks, indicates a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo. This shift towards alternative political options is a significant development that cannot be overlooked and should be closely monitored.
