Sri Lanka

Archipelagic Jurisdiction. Monitoring the NPP Super-Majority, the abolition of the Executive Presidency, and the IMF austerity fallout.

Current Legal Status

"System Change"

Basis: 1978 Constitution New Draft Pending

Government Mandate

Super-Majority

NPP: 159 Seats (Nov '24)

Economic Policy

Austerity

IMF Program Active

Online Freedom

Restricted

Online Safety Act (Amended)

Constitutional Risk

High

Executive Abolition Pending

The "Compass" Super-Majority

Following the landmark victory in November 2024, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's National People's Power (NPP) holds 159 seats in Parliament—a two-thirds majority. This grants the administration unchecked power to rewrite the 1978 Constitution.

Constitutional Agenda

The primary mandate is the Abolition of the Executive Presidency. However, the Watchdog notes a historical paradox: leaders elected to abolish the presidency often find the power too convenient to relinquish once in office.

"Watchdog Status: Drafting Committee appointed (Jan 2025)."

The IMF Reality

Despite populist rhetoric, the 2025 Budget adhered to IMF structural adjustments. Taxes remain high, and the "welfare state" expansion is constrained by debt sustainability targets, creating friction with the NPP's trade union base.

The Fine Print

CRITICAL WATCHLIST

Online Safety Act: The "Repeal" Betrayal?

Status: Amended, Not Repealed. While the NPP campaigned on repealing the draconian Online Safety Act (2024), the 2025 Cabinet decision opted to amend it instead. The "Online Safety Commission" retains broad powers to deem content "false," preserving a mechanism for potential state censorship.

Anti-Corruption: Proceeds of Crime Act

The government has fast-tracked the Proceeds of Crime Act (2025) to recover assets stolen by the previous regime. While popular, legal experts warn that without due process, the "Stolen Asset Recovery" tribunal could become a tool for political vengeance.