State structure
Since 1988, the country has been divided into eight provinces with elected regional assemblies, and twenty-five districts that enjoy partial autonomy in their local management. The administrative capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, on the southeastern outskirts of Colombo. Institutions were established at independence in 1948 and have been modified twice since. In 1972, a republican system of government was established and in 1978 a presidential system with proportional representation was introduced.
The president is elected for a six-year term, renewable once. He is the head of state, head of government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The current President of the Republic is Ranil Wickermesinghe, elected by Parliament on July 20, 2022 following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Prime Minister heads the cabinet. He appoints the members of the government in agreement with the President. The current Prime Minister is Dinesh Gunawardena, appointed by Ranil Wickermesinghe on July 22, 2022.
The unicameralParliament of 225 members is elected by universal suffrage. Parliamentarians are elected from each province for a six-year term.
The judiciary is independent, but members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President.
Political parties
Since independence, two main political parties have alternated in power. Both are based on a system of alliances.
SLPFA (Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance). The Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance holds 145 of the 225 seats. Founded in 2019, it is the major party of the majority. Current leader: Mahinda Rajapakse.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya. The "United People's Power" occupies 54 of the 225 seats. Founded in 2020, it is now the main opposition party. Current leader: Sajith Premadasa.
Tamil National Alliance. This alliance, founded in 2001, is the majority Tamil party and holds only 10 seats in the Assembly. Leader: Rajavarothiam Sampanthan.
Domestic Policy
Today, the consequences of the conflict still determine domestic policy. The army's abuses during the civil war still go unpunished, despite the insistence of international bodies such as the UN. The emergence of extreme Buddhist nationalists in the political landscape, whose radical stance towards Hindu and Muslim minorities is justified in the name of protecting Buddhism, is not conducive to national reconciliation. The new president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is the former military officer involved in the attacks on Tamil separatists at the end of the conflict. He is also suspected of having committed war crimes. Despite his inaugural speech, which was intended to be unifying, concerns persist about a possible deterioration of human rights in the country. The appointment of his brother, Mahinda Rajapakse, as Prime Minister does not help to calm the debate. Indeed, he was President of the Republic from 2005 to 2015, during the end of the conflict. Mahinda Rajapakse was even confirmed in his post after his party won the August 2020 legislative elections. In January 2021, Sri Lankan soldiers destroyed a monument commemorating the tragedy of Mullivaikkal, where more than ten thousand Tamils were exterminated by the army in 2009, which caused a great stir in the Tamil community, which feels completely abandoned by the government.
Foreign policy
India. Also a member of the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka refused to join the Indian Union after its independence in 1948. Relations between the two countries have been delicate since the end of the Sri Lankan conflict and there are still disputes over fishing grounds on their common maritime border. Yet India remains the country's preferred trading partner and a free trade zone was established in 2016.
China. The Middle Kingdom has been investing heavily in the country's infrastructure since 2005 (Colombo port, Hambantota port, road infrastructure, etc.), creating a strong economic dependence of Sri Lanka on Beijing. In 2021, the debt to China represented 10% of the country's external debt. The two countries celebrated 65 years of diplomatic relations in January 2022.
Japan. Relations between the two countries are strong with regular official visits between the two countries. Japan provides considerable economic assistance to Sri Lanka, particularly in the medical and hospital fields.
United States. The United States is a strategic partner, providing support for the peace process during the civil war.
European Union. Trade cooperation agreements with the EU began in 1975. The EU also provided considerable financial and logistical assistance after the 2004 tsunami.
Middle East. Sri Lanka has a privileged position in trade relations with Iran, which supplies it with energy raw materials (oil, gas) and foodstuffs, and in return exports a large amount of tea, which the Iranians are fond of. Sri Lanka maintains good relations with Lebanon and Israel, providing military assistance to secure the border between these two countries.
Current issues
Human Rights. Sexual and domestic violence against women is still numerous and often goes unpunished, despite the commitments of successive governments. Discrimination must be addressed to ensure social peace: Tamil and Muslim minorities are the targets of repeated physical and moral attacks by the Sri Lankan army and citizens. Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community is also common. Finally, the country also needs to do more to defend freedom of expression, as human rights defenders and government opponents are regularly intimidated or threatened. In March 2021, the UN passed a resolution to strengthen respect for human rights in Sri Lanka. This was a major step forward, as it allowed the Human Rights Council to collect information that could hold the Sri Lankan government accountable for its actions and abuses committed during the civil war.
