Description

An economic crisis, broken political institutions, rule of law decay, and elite power struggles. These conditions have accompanied the fall of autocracies and the push for democratic transformation in various Asian countries, and they characterize the situation that has unfolded in Sri Lanka. The election of a new government in 2019 and the 20th Amendment to the Constitution that augmented the Executive’s President’s authority have significantly changed the dynamics of separation of powers in the country. While they stand among the key drivers of the crisis, severe shortages in basic necessities such as fuel, electricity, and medical supplies have triggered an unprecedented scale of protests across the ethnic and religious divide. In this Roundtable discussion, panelists will reflect on how Sri Lanka has plunged into its worst crisis in decades and discuss prospects for, and obstacles against, constitutional and political reform going forward. Drawing on the comparative experiences of other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, this Roundtable will also provide insights on the range of opportunities and options that might lie ahead for Sri Lanka.

Speakers:

• Dr Mario Gomez, International Centre for Ethnic Studies
• Dr Dinesha Samararatne, University of Colombo
• Dr Gehan Gunatilleke, University of Oxford
• Dr Asanga Welikala, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Dian Shah, National University of Singapore (Moderator)

 Register here: https://bit.ly/3vHIfui

View the event flyer here.

This Seminar is proudly organised by the Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS), Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore.

For updates on future events, check back HERE, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. For videos of past recorded events, subscribe to our CALS YouTube Channel.