The citizen’s uprising in Sri Lanka: A watershed moment against racial capitalism

Abstract

The Citizens’ Movement in Sri Lanka is a turning point in the country’s political history, encouraging similar movements in the South Asian region. Diverse socioeconomic and ideological constituencies within the movement are united in protesting economic hardships—particularly food and fuel shortages—that the majority of the movement’s stakeholders attribute to political culture. The movement is a reaction to the political crisis brought about by the economic crisis, and it believes that resolution must begin with a political revolution. The movement’s concrete achievements are unprecedented. It has radically transformed the culture of dissent. The movement succeeded in removing key members of the Rajapaksa family from power. It freed people from the fear of dissent and convinced them of the benefits of using culturally diverse methods to withstand state power. By bursting the bubble of racist ethno-religious nationalism, the movement has prompted discussions about the emancipatory possibilities of a broad range of issues. Although the movement’s stakeholders primarily focus on political regime and combating state suppression, the movement has reinvigorated conversations about the necessity of radical economic reforms. Agriculture must be brought to the center of the movement’s conversations to bring about positive synergy between political and economic reforms to sustain the movement and achieve its goals.