Polity aims to advance democratic consciousness, gender equity, 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 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...
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...
Current Issue
Vol. 14 No. 1 (January – June 2026). 134 pages. Gananath Obeyesekere Memorial. NPP and Neutrality. Iran Solidarity. Justice for Easter Sunday. Chemmani. Cyclone Ditwah. Flood Relief. Microfinance Bill. Peasant Politics. Lunar Calendar. Partitions. Women’s Health. Malaiyaha History. Diasporic memory. Mannar’s ecology. Aloysius Peiris SJ. Cover image Ranjini Obeyesekere. LKR1000 from the Social Scientists’ Association or Barefoot or SLBOOKS.lk.
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.
