Polity aims to advance democratic consciousness, gender equality, state reform, and social change in Sri Lanka, while interested in South Asia and the World.
As its predecessor Pravada (1991-2002), Polity is published by the Social Scientists’ Association in Colombo, with critical content on politics, political economy, history, women, ethnicity, sexualities, religion, labour studies, agrarian relations, nationalisms, violence, ecology, and much more.
The Show
Natasha Ranawake
“That's all, ladies and gentlemen, that's all. Come again to the greatest show on earth. Bring the children. Bring the...
Political Parties in the Mirror of the 2024 Presidential Election in Sri Lanka
Jayadeva Uyangoda and Pradeep Peiris
“Democracy is unthinkable without political parties”, a US political scientist once said (Schattschneider: 1942). He...
The Empathic Sinhala Short Story: Gahaniyak by Martin Wickramasinghe
Jayadeva Uyangoda
In participating in this celebration to mark the centenary of the publication of Martin Wickramasinghe’s short story...
Decoding the Indian Elections: Class, Caste, and Social Exclusion
Roshni Kapur
IntroductionA variety of opinions and commentaries explaining the Indian ruling party’s average performance in the...
2024 Presidential Election: Two-Cornered, Three-Way Fight
Pradeep Peiris
After weeks of hullabaloo, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has nominated Namal Rajapaksa as their candidate for...
South Asia in the New Global Debt Crisis – A Call for Collective Solutions
Amali Wedagedara
Debt payments of developing countries exceed their national revenue. According to a new report, Resolving The Worst...
Current Issue
Out Now! Vol. 13 No. 2 (July – December 2025). 148 pages. #SriLanka. Politics. Cyclone Ditwah. Ecology. Feminism. Education. Justice. Domestic Violence Act. History. Culture. Work. Labour. Books. Cover Picture Sakuna M. Gamage. LKR1000 from the Social Scientists’ Association or Barefoot or SLBOOKS.lk.
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Archive
Pravada (1991-2002) and Polity (2003-) back issues available here.
Social Scientists’ Association
The Social Scientists’ Association (SSA) was founded in 1977, at a turning point in Sri Lankan politics, economy, and society, marked by among other aspects: the ‘open economy’ market reforms; deepening ethnic conflict; and the growing concentration of executive power. Its initiators were academics from public universities, seeking an autonomous space to grapple with these shifts; and to promote progressive political, economic, and social change.