Sri Lanka's hollow democracy: Need to awaken and reclaim our nation

I often wonder whether our nation’s founders ever paused to reflect before adopting the foundational principles of Democratic, Socialist, and Republic to define the country. A nation’s self-identification shapes not only its domestic policies but also its relationship with its people and its place in the world. Misinterpreting or inconsistently applying these terms risks deep conflict, ideological, institutional, and social, which we have adequately experienced. Before judging the merits of this identity, we must return to the fundamentals of democracy: does it serve some of the people some of the time, or all of the people all of the time?

- By Anura De Silva

The core principles of democracy: liberty, equality, and justice are meant for all, not merely for a majority or a privileged few as under colonial rule. These values, grounded in reason and rationality, are designed to elevate human dignity and secure social justice for everyone. In today’s interconnected world, where global challenges demand collective solutions, safeguarding these principles through ethical governance and strong institutions is indispensable.

Colonial totalitarianism mutated into autocratic rule

When elements of democracy, such as universal franchise in 1931, were introduced to colonial Ceylon, they were carefully engineered to preserve colonial power. Authority remained concentrated at the top, while ordinary citizens were denied meaningful influence. Voting was manipulated by elites, with the majority bound to landowners who colluded with political leaders. After independence in 1948, this framework did not change; the local ruling class simply inherited and perpetuated the system. Rather than laying a new foundation for a genuine democracy, colonial totalitarianism mutated into autocratic rule but with a Democratic, Socialist tagline.

Thus, the nation was born on fractured foundations, shaped by monarchism, elitism, militarism, despotism, theocracy, tyranny, and oligarchy: far removed from any true form of democracy. People were treated as subjects rather than citizens. Independence failed to promote universal human values, leaving decades of exclusion, division, and economic decline, all rooted in a deeply dysfunctional political system.