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 Postcolonial Handbook of Violent Repression: Constructing Citizens as Enemies, Fascists, Extremists, Drug Addicts, Terrorists, etc., etc.
Chulani Kodikara
On 20 May 2022, in an interview with Sky News, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was asked whether it was safe for...
“Illegitimate Government, Immediately Halt Repression!” FUTA Statement on the Current Situation
As a professional trade union which has historically stood for social justice in Sri Lanka, FUTA is appalled by the...
“We condemn the violent assault on peaceful protestors”
Academics Abroad
We, the undersigned academics who work on Sri Lanka and South Asia more broadly, fully condemn the violent assault on...
‘Weeks when decades happen’
B. Skanthakumar
“There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen”, as Lenin never actually said. The...
Ranil Wickremesinghe’s election: Results and Prospects for Democratic Revival in Sri Lanka
Devaka Gunawardena
Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ascent to the Executive Presidency represents a system in utter decay. But the unsteady...
The Executive Presidency must go!
The July 9th uprising is a revolutionary moment. The people have spoken, in their millions, in the midst of a grave...
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.