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.
End the Microfinance Menace! No to the new Bill!
Feminist Collective for Economic Justice
The National People’s Party (NPP) marked the completion of its first year in government in September 2025. Sadly, the...
Reflecting Back and Looking Forward: 20 years since the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act
Thahira Cader & Raaya Gomez
IntroductionOctober 3rd this year marks twenty years since the passing of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No....
‘Dead Catting’: Manufacturing Moral Panic in Sri Lanka
Ruben Thurairajah
In Colombo Fort, tourists stroll past decaying colonial buildings, unaware that the air is thick with invented fear. A...
Family Law and Practice in Sri Lanka: Women’s Declaration
Suriya Women’s Development Centre
The Women’s Declaration on Family Law and Practice was officially submitted to Minister of Women and Child Affairs...
Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and Political Legitimacy in Contemporary Sri Lanka
Shashik Silva
Cleavage politics has emerged as one of the most defining features of Sri Lanka’s party system and political behaviour...
Man in the Mirror
Ruben Thurairajah
The photograph came first. Ranil Wickremesinghe walks out of the intensive care unit of Colombo’s National Hospital, a...
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.