In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s 1970 United Front government election victory led by Srimavo Bandaranaike, incidents of violence by unidentified youths targeting police stations and banks were reported in the country’s southern regions. These early attacks, associated with leftist radical groups, signaled a shift in the political landscape. Mahinda Wijesekara, then president of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) Deshapremi Student Front, stated at the time that these youths aimed to dismantle capitalist structures, including demands to close the U.S. Embassy and uproot tea plantations seen as colonial remnants.
The JVP-led insurrection escalated in April 1971, rattling the nation and leading to a violent uprising that was later analyzed as an ultra-leftist misadventure by figures such as lawyer and leftist politician Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. This period marked the violent emergence of radical politics that would evolve significantly in the decades to follow.
The 1977 parliamentary elections resulted in a landslide victory for the United National Party under J.R. Jayewardene, who introduced a liberalized economic framework alongside a powerful executive presidency. However, the administration’s failure to address Tamil grievances contributed to decades of ethnic conflict. The government’s violent suppression of Tamil youth and the anti-Tamil pogroms on July 24, 1983, catalyzed a civil war that lasted nearly three decades.
The conclusion of the separatist conflict in 2009 presented an opportunity for national reconciliation, but subsequent governments have been criticized for adopting policies viewed as racially divisive. Notably, the rise of anti-Muslim violence in areas such as Aluthgama, Ampara, Galle, and Digana has further strained communal relations and undermined economic stability.
By April 2022, Sri Lanka faced a severe economic crisis, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring an inability to meet external debt obligations totaling approximately $51 billion, effectively bankrupting the nation. This financial vulnerability led to expanded cooperation with India, the United States, and Israel, raising concerns among some communities.
Criticism has been directed at the Sri Lankan government’s ties with Israel and India’s Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a group linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and noted for its anti-Muslim stance. Modi’s prior record as Gujarat’s chief minister includes accusations related to communal violence against Muslims. Observers point to a troubling correlation between Sri Lanka’s closer relations with India and Israel and the escalation of anti-Muslim attacks within the country, culminating in the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist bombings executed by groups with Muslim affiliates. Calls for accountability remain unmet, with no significant trials or convictions following years of such violence.
The penetration of Israeli influence in Sri Lanka is also noted, extending to media coverage reportedly minimizing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Parallel concerns exist regarding India’s regional ambitions, perceived to undermine Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. Historically, Indian strategists such as K.M. Panikkar have emphasized the island’s strategic importance to Indian security, viewing control over the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka as vital.
International watchdogs have highlighted the growing military and intelligence ties between India and Israel, with reports citing extensive arms transfers from India to Israel, fueling conflict in Gaza. This dynamic has raised alarm among those wary of Sri Lanka’s deepening partnerships with both states, especially amid global condemnation of Israel’s operations in Palestine.
In November 2024, Sri Lankan voters elected the National Political Party (NPP), a rebranded successor of the JVP, securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority. While many, including members of the Muslim community, supported the NPP hoping for substantive change, early signs of marginalization are evident. The newly formed cabinet excludes Muslim ministers for the first time since independence in 1948, and key parliamentary positions and commissions lacked Muslim representation. Such developments have prompted concern among Muslims regarding their political inclusion and broader communal relations.
The NPP government faces scrutiny on whether its trajectory will mimic past administrations—particularly the centralized power and ethnic tensions that preceded Sri Lanka’s current economic challenges—and whether it can address longstanding ethnic grievances while preserving the nation’s political freedoms.