Years after the political upheaval, Sri Lankans struggled to rally behind the new man

Two years ago, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans revolted against their president and forced him to flee the country. As the country prepares for its first election since then, many say they are still waiting for change.

As Sri Lanka sinks into recession in 2022, people from different walks of life come together to change a long-standing government they see as responsible. The unprecedented island-wide public uprising they led was a moment of hope for a country weary of war and economic stagnation.

In the days before Saturday’s presidential election, many are still bemoaning corrupt leaders, economic mismanagement and the entrenched power of the old political party. But former protesters found it difficult to rally behind the candidate.

They agree on one thing: Sri Lanka needs a new political system that can pull it out of economic and political chaos.

Days after Rajapaksa fled the country, Sri Lanka’s parliament installed then-prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a vote that many protesters saw as a victory for the status quo.

Many Sri Lankans say the current government is largely made up of politicians who have ruled the island nation for decades, from a devastating civil war that ended in 2009 to an economic crisis that began during the COVID-19 crisis.

Although he was later jailed for seven days on charges of violence that saw Sri Lankan protesters ransack the presidential palace, doctor Pathum Kerner, 42, said the protests served one purpose: to bring in a new leader who could deal with the country’s economic woes.

The worst economic crisis is over, he says, but there is still a long way to go.

“We wanted to build a new party, a new political culture and emerging leaders, but we couldn’t do that,” said Kerner, who joined the protests in their early days and helped start the “Go Home, Gota” slogan to rally against Rajapaksa’s enemies.

Wickremesinghe has made progress in stabilizing Sri Lanka’s economy, but discontent remains strong as he introduces economic policies that have increased the cost of living, such as tax cuts and a debt restructuring plan.

The desire to reduce the power of the president

Meanwhile, many of the protest movement’s political demands have not been met, from accountability for the economic crisis to a reduction in presidential power and a democratic transition.

Ajantha Perera, an academic and scientist who was part of the protests, said he hoped that Wickremesinghe would work with the protesters to find solutions to the problem.

Instead, he said, the new president went after civil society leaders who contributed to civil society, delayed local elections citing lack of funding and protected the powerful Rajapaksa family, which ruled Sri Lanka for more than 12 years.

“Suddenly he turned into something completely different. He was trying to please the Rajapaksa, who have left,” said Perera.

Like many who have protested, he wants Sri Lanka to strip its presidency of most of its powers, handing it over to a powerful parliament and prime minister.

“The office of the president is a white elephant in Sri Lanka,” he said, adding that any new president can use it to strengthen his hand in the country. “We can’t afford it. We don’t need it.”

Tension is a sign of a better democracy, says an expert

Former protesters find that they don’t always agree on the course their country should take, creating a rift between their allies.

Wickremesignhe’s main rivals – opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and member of parliament Anura Dissanayake, the main challenger to lead the new left coalition – have promised major political changes, including renegotiating the deal with the International Monetary Fund to win better terms.

Dissanayake even promised to release the country’s resources nationally to boost growth.

Those promises worry Kerner, who says he’s eager for the government to stick to its promises, but he doesn’t trust economic conservatives.

“Bringing a left-handed person into this problem,” says Kerner, “is like leaving laxatives on a patient who is dying of dehydration.”

Human rights lawyer Swasthika Arulingam says the political divide that is emerging among the protesters is a sign of a healthy democracy.

Arulingam, who provided legal aid to protesters during the protest, says Sri Lankans have become “politically aware” after decades of ethnic voting.

“This was the time when the political situation broke and people took to the streets to demand change. So there is a change in politics regarding the new generation,” said Arulingam. “Political parties and candidates can no longer come forward and say whatever they want. People are asking questions now.”

The 37-year-old, who is a member of the minority Tamil community, which suffered in the civil war, is helping to run the campaign for a candidate in the newly formed People’s Struggle Alliance. It is another left-wing political organization fighting for Sri Lanka’s political space.

Arulingam admits that his party will not succeed in this election, but he says that he will not hesitate to enter the streets again if the country’s politicians do not meet the demands of change.

“We are preparing for a political battle, and we are preparing the stage.”