Sri Lanka

The arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former Sri Lankan president, even on what some might dismiss as a minor charge, is not a “victory” in itself but a political warning. For decades, the ruling class […]

The Results The local election concluded on 6 May in Sri Lanka marks the beginning of a loss of support for the National People’s Power / Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (NPP / JVP) (formally a “leftist” […]

On the 54th anniversary of the rebellion launched by Wijeweera (founder of the JVP – Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) on April 5, 1971, there has been great curiosity and discussion in Sri Lankan society about the […]

“The National People’s Power (NPP) government coalition won an absolute majority in the recent parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. The seats of the traditional parties in the regions of the north-east of the Tamil speaking […]

A discussion has emerged in society about the nature of the National People’s Power (NPP) government, formed under the leadership of Anura Kumara Dissanayake. There was an old saying in Sri Lanka about how a […]

The Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led National People’s Power (NPP) won an unexpectedly large victory in the elections held on November 14 in Sri Lanka. This is a huge victory for the NPP in parliament. This is […]

Sri Lanka’s general election, held on 14 November, marked a breaking-point in the country’s political history. The National People’s Power (NPP) secured an extraordinary 159 seats, achieving a two-thirds majority in Parliament. This result shocked […]

For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, the country finds itself under the leadership of a president—Anura Kumara Dissanayake—who hails from a party with a left-leaning background. However, despite the media’s portrayal of him […]

Though the establishment parties somehow survived the Aragalaya (The Struggle) in 2022, they were never able to win back the full trust of the masses. The ruling Rajapaksa family then stepped back from governmental positions […]

The recently concluded presidential elections have shocked Sri Lanka’s established, corrupt, family-centered political parties. The result, favouring the The Janatha Vimukthi Peramun (JVP –  ’People’s Liberation Front’), which led the National People’s Power (NPP) electoral […]

In the presidential election held on September 21, 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidency by receiving 5,740,179 votes, or 42.3 percent. He will go down in history as the president who failed to secure […]

Sri Lanka’s presidential election held last Saturday resulted in electing Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the ninth executive president of the country. He polled 5,634,915 votes as against his nearest rival Sajith Premadasa who polled 4,363,035 […]

The ninth presidential election that took place on 21 September 2024 is nothing like what has happened in the past. It is the first election since the 2022 mass movement (Aragalaya) that ousted the former […]

Over 75 trade unionists and international visitors attended a conference organised by the Free Trade Union Centre in Sri Lanka, which debated the way forward for workers in that country following the protests of 2022, […]

The United Socialist Party (USP), the Sri Lankan section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI), is contesting in the upcoming September 21st presidential election in Sri Lanka. Siritunga Jeyasuriya is running to highlight […]

Wickramabahu Karunaratne, who was a giant of the left movement in Sri Lanka, ended his life’s journey on 25th of July. I first met Wickramabahu in the latter half of 1970 when I attended a […]

Part 3 The struggle for far sighted Marxist position I was one of the boys in the car that made its way to the Palali airport in the middle of the night. The other is […]

Part 1 Indian military intervention and emergence of political confusion One evening in 1988, when encroaching darkness seemed momentarily halted, in the gentle embrace of the emerging moonlight, a car was driving towards Palali airport. […]

A remembrance event for the July 1983 pogroms, which was organized in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday, July 23, was attacked and forcibly stopped by the police. The 1983 pogrom against Tamils is regarded as […]

Part 3 * A weakness of the Galle Face declaration is its calls for the existing parliament to reform itself by changing the way it operates, abolition of the presidency, and possibly enacting a few […]

Part 2 The current regime lacks any viable economic solution other than perpetuating further suffering among the broader population. Their economic survival hinges on the continuation of this brutal suffering for the masses, who are […]

It has been a year since the mass movement erupted in July 2022. The movement now faces a number of questions that need to be addressed. The development of future struggles and their victory depends […]

The ultimate trump card of capitalist political leaders in underdeveloped countries is to promote racism and religious divisions. The purpose of this article is to examine the nature of the deep economic crisis facing the […]

Restart decisive struggle against government attacks! On 20 March, the IMF announced a $3 billion bailout (over 4 years) for Sri Lanka. However, this deal is nowhere near enough to solve the deep crisis that […]

“Go Home Gota” was the slogan with which a new wave of mass struggle started in Sri Lanka in April last year. This struggle then developed into a massive popular uprising, including huge strikes, that […]

On Sri Lankan Independence Day, 4 February, Tamil Solidarity organised a protest to oppose the repressive Sri Lankan regime at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London. The protest was organised with the slogans: “75 years of […]

The Aragalaya (Sinhalese for “struggle”) protests in Sri Lanka, fuelled by a cost-of-living crisis, inspired students and young people across the world. People saw images of masses of protesters taking over the presidential palace and […]

Protests were held across Sri Lanka and internationally on 9 November demanding fundamental democratic rights, such as the right to protest, the right to assembly, freedom of speech and the release of all protesters, including […]

The Movement for Peoples Councils (MPC) in Sri Lanka, together with IUSF (Inter University Student Federation), is appealing to the workers, students and youth, internationally, to support the struggle in Sri Lanka.  As a first step, […]

Defend the right to protest Release all those arrested during protests On the 21st July, Ranil Wickremasinghe assumed the Presidency of Sri Lanka after the former President Gotabaya Rajapakse fled his official residence and was […]

On the day of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-led ‘interim budget’ announcement for Sri Lanka, thousands of protesters were brutally attacked in the streets of the capital, Colombo. Over 22 were arrested and are being […]

The following statement was circulated by the United Socialist Party (CWI in Sri Lanka) to socialist parties and groups in Sri Lanka from 12th August. Socialistworld.net An open appeal to socialist organisations Building for a […]

On the 18th of August the newly appointed president of Sri Lanka unleashed a brutal attack on a demonstration in Colombo organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF). The IUSF played a key role during […]

The heavy military moved into protest areas in Colombo last night and during early Friday morning, clearing out the area of demonstrators. The day before, arrest warrants were issued for student protest leaders. The new […]

Tens of thousands gathered in Sri Lanka again today to make sure that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa finally resigned and was gone. With the help of the military, the president was reported to have fled the […]

A historical day was marked on 9 July in Sri Lanka, when the masses decisively entered the pages of history. People from all around the country descended on the capital city Colombo to register their […]

Deepening crisis  Sri Lanka came to a halt early this month as the government announced that it does not have enough fuel or any money available for imports. All private vehicles are banned and schools […]

Which direction Sri Lanka will take in the coming period? Will the establishment move towards consolidating its position, which was jolted by recent mass uprisings led by the youth? Or will the mass youth movement […]

The Sri Lankan government’s attempt to defeat the movement against it has provoked a ferocious reaction from protesters. Just days before, on 6 May, trade unions organised the most successful Hartal (a general stoppage of […]

The following article was written just before the resignation yesterday of Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, after weeks of protests amid an economic crisis. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains in place as demands grow for […]

Some Pictures from of Hartal Day On Friday 6th of May, 2022, the sun rose on the island nation Sri Lanka just as on any other day. But it was not an ordinary day. Hundreds […]

Tens of thousands of workers all over the country came out on strike on Thursday 28 April. They are demanding the resignation of the country’s corrupt president and his family-led government. They have created the […]

Tamil organisations and self-proclaimed leaders in Sri Lanka have so far refused to come out clearly in support of bringing down the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime. With the position of ‘anybody but the Rajapaksas’ in the […]

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka did not appear suddenly but has been in the making for some time. Covid-led destruction devastated the tourist industry and government policies have further accelerated the crisis. The recent […]

As we write protests continue to take place across Sri Lanka the day after protesters defied one of the strongest-ever curfews in place and gathered in many parts of the capital city and across the […]

A spontaneous and countrywide eruption of struggle is now taking place in Sri Lanka. Many youth and workers are gathering in parts of the country to express their anger against the government. Prices of essential […]

From about 7.30 on the night of Thursday, 31 March, thousands of angry protesters besieged the residence of Sri Lanka’s president, Gotabaya Rajapakshe. Buses and other vehicles were set on fire in what could be […]

Tens of thousands took to the streets of Sri Lanka, on 16 March, demanding the government to act on the spiralling cost of all essential commodities. Street protests have become a common feature and take […]

The Sri Lankan economy is at near collapse. Workers and the poor are asked to pay for this crisis. They face increased employment and increased prices of all essential goods. The government is increasingly dictatorial […]

The president of Sri Lanka, Gotabhaya Rajapaksha, has completed two years in office. He came to power with huge public support from the south of the country, where Sinhala Buddhists predominate. He was defence secretary […]

The current severe Covid restrictions have inevitably had an impact on the ongoing protests of teachers and students. However the anger against the government has continued to increase. Many students’ and teachers’ leaders are still […]

Thousands of teachers and students in Sri Lanka have been out every day on continuous protest action, defying the government and braving the Covid 19 pandemic. The latest spike in the Covid crisis is actually […]

Since coming to power in November 2019, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government has gone through a severe crisis. Sri Lanka was once the second most powerful economy in Asia, but now it is falling into the […]

The following English language translation of an interview with Siritunga Jayasuriya was conducted by Samantha Rajapaksa and published on the ‘Left Voice’ (Sri Lanka) website. socialistworld.net Siritunga Jayasuriya (Siri) is General Secretary of the United […]

Women workers constitute the vast majority toiling in Sri Lanka’s main export industries – clothing and tea. They are the two main groups facing the biggest risks from the current Covid 19 crisis. Every day […]

Since the beginning of last year, the whole world suffered from the Covid-19 crisis. Though developed capitalist countries seem to ‘manage’ the situation – yet by no means all of them – and are able […]

The Metropolitan Police are investigating British mercenaries’ hand in the massacre of over 100,000 civilians and the brutal defeat of the LTTE (Tamil Tigers), who fought an armed struggle for an independent Tamil Eelam nation. […]

Before the latest quite severe covid-19 lockdown in Sri Lanka, Gotabhaya Rajapaksha’s government mustered its forces to pass the 20th Amendment to the country’s constitution. This replaces the 19th Amendment promulgated in 2015. The change […]

The Rajapaksa family has consolidated more power following the election in Sri Lanka which concluded on 5 August. Despite the coronavirus crisis, and restrictions on social mobility, around a 70% voter turnout was registered. Overall […]

Covid 19 is spreading extremely rapidly across the globe. Countries have taken various steps to curb it but have still not been able to stop the virus from going further. The Sri Lankan government of […]

In late 1934 and early 1935, parts of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) were plagued by an epidemic of malaria. This followed huge floods in 1934. The British colonial rulers and the ‘Ceylonese Council of Ministers’ […]

In the Sri Lanka presidential election held on 16 November 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) was able to defeat his rival Sajith Premadasa by 1,360,011 votes. Gotabaya mustered 6,924,255 votes and Sajith obtained only 5,594,239 votes. […]

The extremely polarised presidential election in Sri Lanka has resulted in victory for Gotabaya c. As Defence Minister under the dictatorial president, his brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya ordered the bloody genocide at the end of […]

The Sri Lankan presidential election, scheduled for 16 November, is taking place at a time when the country is going through a major political and economic crisis. The government is proving it has no solutions […]

A public meeting organised in Jaffna last Sunday, 25 August, by the United Socialist Party (USP) was a great success with more than 70 people attending. It was to launch the party’s new book in […]

Thirty years of war in Sri Lanka came to a brutal end on 18 May 2009. In its final act of barbarity, Sri Lankan government forces surrounded over 300,000 people fleeing the war, forced them […]

When many are trying to get back to a normal life following the horrific Easter Sunday mass killings, a new wave of communal attacks has started against the Muslim population. The Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist groups […]

After the bombings – claimed by reactionary Islamic forces – Muslim workers and poor people right across Sri Lanka have felt under attack from all sides. Government and religious bigots have whipped up a scare […]

The United Socialist Party in Sri Lanka, the Tamil Solidarity campaign and the Socialist Party in England and Wales strongly condemn the atrocious attacks that took place in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday (21-04-2019). Well-coordinated […]

Since 26 October Sri Lanka has been plunged into deep political crisis. It’s a dangerous state of affairs, especially if the parliamentary conflict spills into the streets and communities. It could also lead to a […]

United Socialist Party (CWI in Sri Lanka) statement on deepening crisis in the country.

Sri Lanka is experiencing a dramatic constitutional crisis – an unprecedented parliamentary coup. It has seen the president – Maithripala Sirisena – break his coalition with Ranil Wickramasinghe, suspend parliament and appoint the former dictator/president […]

“Our Corpses were the Fertilisers for your Tea Plantations…The Hot Teas you sip in your Mornings were Strewn with our Blood” (lines from the Tamil Nadu poet, Aadhavan Deetchinya) The town of Nuwara Eliya, in […]

For the first time since independence from British rule, the Sri Lankan government had ruled that there would be no national holiday on 1st May because it was too close to a Buddhist religious festival. […]

The Sri Lankan government declared an emergency on 6 March and closed down access to social media following the mob attack on Muslim business and houses in Kandy. The government is claiming that they have […]

Dramatic political upheavals are the order of the day in the era of capitalist crisis and that is what has taken place in Sri Lanka – but with special island characteristics. Former prime minister Mahinda […]

  The Sri Lankan economy is declining further and the joint Sirisena-Wikeramasinghe administration is showing that they are incapable of developing the economy as promised during the 2015 election period. All their hopes of getting […]

The South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITAM) has recently become a key focal point of protest in Sri Lanka. Students and workers who have been peacefully demonstrating their opposition to government policies are […]

Review of play called 'The Island Nation'

IMF led austerity budget has unveiled in Sri Lanka

Lively meeting prepares membership for next period

Socialists demand immediate release

Working class struggle top priority for socialists

Neo-liberal policies of UNP-led government will not satisfy demands of workers and poor.

Demand asylum for young torture victim, Janahan!

Article first published in the Colombo Telegraph

President Sirisena aims for clean government but will face difficulties

Period of uncertainty opens

Socialist candidate challenges all other forces

United Socialist Party, Sri Lanka’s section of Committee for a Workers’ International has paid tribute to veteran trade unionist, Bala Tampoe, who passed away recently at the age of 92. Philip Balendra Tampoe became General […]

CWI calls for protests and financial assistance

CWI condemns attack and requests solidarity

USP mounts motor cycle ‘march’ to fight for united struggle against chauvinists

At least four people were killed and 100 injured in anti-Muslim attacks

Photos of United Socialist Party march and meeting

Repression can provoke opposition

Demand a constituent assembly

With the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) taking place from 10 to 17 November all eyes are on Sri Lanka

Statement on the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting taking place (CHOGM) in Colombo

Cameron to Sri Lanka – not in our name

Building a left alternative; link fight against regime with struggle of oppressed Tamils and system change

United Socialist Party makes election challenge

Anti-Tamil pogroms organised by ruling class

The one day protest general strike held on 21 May was a significant step forward for the working class in Sri Lanka.

The United Socialist Party’s May Day demonstration passed successfully through a number of populous areas of Colombo, ending at Grand Pass Junction.

"Still Counting the Dead: Survivors of Sri Lanka’s hidden war" by Frances Harrison

Development of Bodu Bala Sena must be stopped

Workers’ movement must take up their cause

’Thas’ granted asylum in Belgium

Sign on-line appeal

Memorial meeting remembers the great revolutionary who died in August 1940

Who killed Nimalaruban?

War criminal on the run!

Tamils are outraged that Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been invited to the British queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations.

Third anniversary of slaughter of Tamil people by Sri Lankan army marked by protests all around the world

Socialist organisations march to joint rally

Committee for a Workers’ International representatives speak

Protest in response and release of the two shows potential for united struggle

Appeal for international protests

A blow to the regime but not enough

Amnesty international and the British Channel 4 television channel reveal new material documenting the unpunished slaughter and ongoing oppression of Tamil people

Full inquiries moved by Paul Murphy MEP and agreed

Tamil Solidarity demands that Cameron reveals all his personal dealings with lobbying firm and show the concrete details of the measures he has taken in relation to war crimes in Sri Lanka

“Difficult times – yet we are defiant and determined!”

British Defence Secretary Fox in trouble

International protest demands end of death penalty against Tamil activists

Rajapakse regime shoots peaceful workers

Tamil representatives, solidarity and human rights campaigns and individual activists converged on the European parliament on Wednesday (1 June)

Tamil Solidarity exposes the arrogant way Rajapaksa answers the UN report

The CWI supports the struggle of Tamil Solidarity and others for the rights of all workers and oppressed people in Sri Lanka.

What is the way forward now?

The genocidal war in the north and east of Sri Lanka, which ended in May 2009, has created more than 68,000 widows. On the other hand, there are another 30,000 widows in the southern part […]

Tamil people’s struggle for freedon and justice – beyond our borders

Sri Lanka has once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most dangerous places for a journalist to work

United Socialist Party and the fight for democratic rights

‘Death of Democracy’ in Sri Lanka

A CONSTANT stream of Tamils flowed into Parliament Square, London, on Tuesday 18 May.

Consolidation of chauvinism – mass opposition needed

Perspective for united struggle

Fight to stop dictatorship cannot be postponed

Grim period ahead for workers and poor.

A courageous record fighting repression and ethnic division

United Socialist Party (CWI in Sri Lanka) campaign continues

Tamil solidarity case forcefully put by Tamil Solidarity coordinator

Socialist runs with clear alternative to “choice of death by machete or death by axe”

Candidate for United Socialist Party (CWI in Sri Lanka) writes to British press

What does the election mean for the Tamil-speaking masses?

New website covers election campaign

We are sickeningly familiar with the arrogant, cruel statements of Sri Lankan prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his cronies. They dismiss any criticism of their brutal war against Tamil-speaking people and the horrific aftermath of […]

Delegates defied “very difficult circumstances”

Solidarity needed with stranded refugees in Indonesia

United struggle needed for liberation

Tamil people “Not prepared to surrender”

International campaign needed to end attacks on media and opposition

National question remains unresolved

Beginnings of fight-back against dictatorial Rajapakse regime

Days of victory celebrations humiliating all Tamils

Rajapakse government cannot fulfil needs of workers and poor

Socialists continue fight against Rajapakse dictatorship

Joe Higgins attacks Sri Lankan government in Irish Daily Mail

Mass protests continue

Indian government told to stop support of murderous Rajapakse regime

International protest grows

Tamil people must have right to decide own future

Campaign launched to demand end to war and to fight for democratic rights

Appeal for protests as pro-government thugs are used yet again to silence opposition

Spoil Sri Lankan government’s ‘Freedom Day’ celebrations!

Socialists demand action to end the nightmare

Tamil Tigers in danger of defeat; Tamil people’s struggle goes on

Socialists call for media freedom, peace, democracy and socialism.

Broad campaign launched to stop state violence

Protests and solidarity action needed.

Opposition trounced but United Socialist Party still biggest left force

United Socialist Party challenges government over war and prices

For a wage increase of just 5,000 rupees a month (£25)

President Rajapakse greeted with angry protests in London

The Provincial Council election in the East will enter history as one of the most rigged elections in Sri Lanka.

The only political party to have a demonstration and rally in Colombo

Socialists fight in Eastern elections

Class struggle more urgent than ever

Full-scale war to follow assassination and bombings

Call for united action now

Wesley Suthantharabal Muthiah 1930 – 2007

Government isolated; workers need solutions

Campaign against war and oppression gets a boost

Siritunga Jayasuriya, secretary of the United Socialist Party (CWI Sri Lanka) and some associates in the ’United People’s Movement’ escaped with their lives when over 300 armed thugs, led by a deputy minister, raided the […]

Bodies of murder victims likely those of kidnapped Tamils

The situation in Sri Lanka has become even more difficult for the left forces, especially the activists fighting against the war and against the repression of the rights of the Tamil-speaking minority.

The campaign against repression and war in Sri Lanka has gathered even more momentum.

London lobbies on Wednesday 31 January: Stop the killings! Put Mervyn Silva on trial! Hands off Siritunga Jaysuriya!

Hundreds of journalists and media workers from five Sri Lankan media organisations staged a joint protest at Colombo Fort railway station last Tuesday, 23 January, against the threats and intimidation against journalists and their frequent […]

Protest letters continue to bombard the office of the president of Sri Lanka following the brutal gangster attack on an anti-war meeting in Colombo.

Protests outside embassies and consulates.

Letters of strong protest from two of Ireland’s Socialist Party councillors:

Please draw up protests on the basis of the resolution for MPs (see below)

Siritunga Jaysuriya of the United Socialist Party (CWI Sri Lanka) and a handful of associates in the ‘United People’s Movement’ escaped with their lives when over 300 armed thugs, led by a deputy minister, raided […]

The 15 day long tea plantation strike – the longest in recent history – is supposed to have come to an end.

Three days before the congress of the United Socialist Party (CWI, Sri Lanka) was convened in Colombo, a suicide bomb attack in the city targeted the minister of defence – the brother of the president, […]

The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in his Heroes’ Day speech, has warned of an end to the cease-fire and of the ‘Tigers’ renewing their demand for independence.

Protests at the murder of prominent Tamil MP, Nadarajah Raviraj, continue to pour in to embassies around the world and directly to the office of the president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse.

Thousands march in Colombo; embassies picketed around the globe

High profile assassination demands massive response

The description of Sri Lanka as ‘tear-shaped’ has never been more apt than it is today.

cwi lobbies of Sri Lanka embassies in Stockholm and London

"Life for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka has become unbearable."

Early in the morning on Thursday, 15 June, two claymore mines exploded destroying a bus packed with farmers, workers and children.

Sri Lanka has just come to the end of a period of elections.

On Tuesday, 25 April, a suicide bomber attacked the car in which the top Sri Lankan army commander was travelling.

In the council and provincial elections which took place on Thursday, 30 March, the United Socialist Party (CWI in Sri Lanka) won one seat and massively improved its vote in many other areas.

The four-year long cease-fire in Sri Lanka’s civil war is on the verge of collapse.

One year on: where is the relief?

But victory of communalist candidate poses danger for working class

Reply to article in The Observer (UK).

Pro-capitalist presidential winner will not bring peace and better living conditions

Only left party to challenge attack on right of Tamils to vote

A socialist programme for workers and the oppressesd

Photographs of USP members campaigning on ’Nomination Day’

Socialist candidate’s “red three-wheeler” makes history

Sri Lanka is experiencing one of its deepest-ever crises. Since the new millennium began, there have been four major elections in this country. Many of Sri Lanka’s workers and down-trodden people are faced with a […]

Sri Lanka is going through an unprecedented crisis, not only because of the murder of Foreign Minister Kadirgarmar last week, but also the failure of the capitalist government to meet the present challenges.

Rising communalist tide – A warning to the working class

On 12 May the Socialist Plantation Workers’ Union (SPWU) opened new offices in the town of Nuwara Eliya, high up in the Sri Lankan ‘hill country’.

On 12 May the Socialist Plantation Workers’ Union (SPWU) opened new offices in the town of Nuwara Eliya, high up in the Sri Lankan ‘hill country’.

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 article On the march

Tamil and Sinhala Trotskyists march united against poverty and communalism

The tsunami and its terrible aftermath is the overarching issue that still dominates every aspect of Sri Lankan society.

The Sri Lankan United Socialist Party (USP) – affiliated to the Committee for a Workers International (cwi) – held its most successful ever congress on 25 – 26 March in Colombo.

Scandal of government ‘relief’ fuels social, political and national crisis

"Demonstrations are escalating. From yesterday morning until today, homeless people in the East of the Island occupied the main road from Ampara all the way up to Batticaloa.

The devastation and escalating death toll in the Indian Ocean region can leave no one unmoved.

The tragic devastation wreaked by the earthquake and tidal wave in the Indian Ocean has killed tens of thousands of people. In Sri Lanka alone, the death toll has reached 13,000 and is still rising.

The victory for the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the parliamentary elections, followed by the provincial elections, has brought more problems instead of solving the burning crisis of the country. The UPFA – a […]

On Saturday 10 July, the Provincial Council elections saw a much lower turn-out than usual.

United Socialist Party achieves record result

The president has prepared the ground for elections through several dramatic measures during the last few months. On 4 November she conducted a ’mini-coup’, taking command of three minister’s posts from the UNP government. On […]

The present government crisis in Sri Lanka arises out of the JR Jayawardene constitution, adopted in 1979, which gives dictatorial executive powers to the country’s President.

“The thirteenth day of our strike has ended with a glorious victory!” declared Saranapala Palihena, member of the Janaraja Joint Health Services Union and Executive Committee of United Socialist Party (CWI Sri Lanka).

The health workers’ strike in Sri Lanka is now (21 September) in its 6th day. The workers are agitating on the main demand of rectifying an unfair wage anomaly. It came about as a result […]

"The peace process is the most important issue in Sri Lanka today. The war shows the incapability of the capitalist class to develop society. It is extremely weak and dependent on reactionary elements to stay […]

From August 14-19, a delegation of comrades from the United Socialist Party (USP) of Sri Lanka made an historic visit to Jaffna via Vavuniya. This follows a recent ceasefire between LTTE (Tamil Tigers) forces, fighting […]

Council elections in Sri Lanka have reinforced last December’s general election results with the United National Party strengthening its position further. It was bolstered, above all, by the cease-fire deal with the separatist Liberation Tigers […]

The recapture of the strategic Elephant Pass by the Tamil Tigers inflicted a severe blow to the Sri Lankan army. President Chandrika Kumaratunga has declared a state of emergency, suspending democratic rights and demanding yet […]

Even as we are sending this out there is heavy fighting around Jaffna. The ‘Tigers’ have taken a vitally important bridge and yesterday claimed to be 3 kilometres form the town itself. It looks like […]