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.
Solidarity among Women in Politics in Sri Lanka: Potentials and Challenges
Nadine Vanniasinkam and Viyanga Gunasekera
IntroductionWomen politicians and political aspirants in Sri Lanka share certain patterns of marginalisation within...
‘The Writing Was on The Wall’: Debt Distress and Ways Forward in Sri Lanka
Jayati Ghosh
In the fourth in a series of talks organised by Polity magazine of the Social Scientists’ Association and the Women...
‘The Writing Was on The Wall’: Debt Distress and Ways Forward in Sri Lanka
Jayati Ghosh
In the fourth in a series of talks organised by Polity magazine of the Social Scientists’ Association and the Women...
Selvi: Loss, Dissent, and Hope
Sivamohan Sumathy
What can I write about a PEN awardee, a prisoner of conscience, a feminist, human rights activist, co-actor, and...
SL Govt – Stop Labeling Student Protestors and Activists as Terrorists!
We are a group of feminists writing to call urgent attention to the extra-constitutional attempts of the Government of...
‘Aragalaya’: Situation Nominal, Tense Future
Vajra Chandrasekera
There is a tendency to shrink and reify that which is too big, too complex, and too diverse to otherwise easily talk...
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.