Sri Lanka's New Political Culture: The Arrest of a Former President and the Demand for Accountability
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (India and its neighborhood - Sri Lanka); Current events of international importance; Key concepts of governance.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations & Governance): India and its neighborhood- relations; Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries; Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability. The theme of popular protests leading to political change and demands for accountability in a neighboring democracy is highly relevant.
Key Highlights from the News
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested in August 2025 in a case involving the misuse of public funds.
While his supporters argue this is a politically motivated action, the article views it as an attempt to ensure the accountability of political leaders.
This is a clear indication that after the mass protests of 2022, the Sri Lankan people are no longer willing to tolerate the corruption and extravagant lifestyles of political leaders.
This arrest also poses a significant political risk for the current NPP government. They will be forced to apply the same law to their own leaders, or risk being labeled as hypocrites.
While developing democracies are often accused of being "immature," Sri Lanka is witnessing its people redefine their relationship with political authority. The article sees this as a sign of a maturing democracy.
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