By Savitri Hensman

In mid-November last year the National People’s Power (NPP) centre-left coalition won a landslide victory in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election after its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was voted president in September. It reflected a major political shift arising from the aragalaya people’s movement based on the rejection of the Rajapaksa former ruling dynasty, its inner circle and their economic mismanagement, authoritarianism, divisiveness and corruption. This has opened up the possibility of tackling widespread violations of economic, civil, social and cultural rights.

The NPP appealed to ordinary Sri Lankans of all ethnic and religious communities, especially those facing financial hardship or uncertainty. Successful efforts were made to broaden the electoral base beyond that of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), to which President Dissanayake belongs, off-putting to many minority voters because of its history of Sinhalese nationalism, while also seen as too left-wing by certain sections of the population. Willingness to address the problems of those on low and lower middle incomes, too often overlooked by Tamil parties and perhaps remote too from the experience of some prosperous Muslim politicians, won support along with pledges to return land grabbed by state agencies.

Diverse candidates were chosen and, while women are still underrepresented among MPs, numbers have risen, some with a strong track record of tackling gender inequality. For the first time, this includes three Malaiyaha Tamil women alongside three men from that community although discrimination of multiple kinds is still rife and improvements are much needed. The parliamentary majority should make it possible for ministers to push through bold measures that further human rights for all in line with promises, if genuinely determined to do so.

Since the election even the generally cautious Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, as well as speaking up on the treatment of asylum seekers from Myanmar, has prompted ministers on unresolved issues. Amplifying the many voices in the country calling for greater justice, Human Rights Watch has written outlining key concerns.

In the early days of the government, there has been modest progress, for instance, in raised allowances for poor families but also some disappointment such as the ongoing use of the widely discredited Prevention of Terrorism Act and the intention to replace it with yet another unnecessary law. There have also been pledges of action in the New Year on various matters; how helpful these are likely to be, for instance on the extent of decentralisation and provincial-level democracy proposed, should become clearer soon.

In living up to expectations, the NPP faces several obstacles from outside and within. Rightly or wrongly it has given way to International Monetary Fund (IMF) demands, often brutal and counterproductive though these are, so that even modest reforms to reduce poverty and stave off collapse of small and medium enterprises may require special permission. While this has reduced the risk of being sabotaged by overseas partners who champion a dangerously unbalanced global financial system, it will get in the way of public health, poverty reduction and sustainable development. There will also be pressure from local members of the elite and others in powerful positions including the security forces and senior officials used to behaving oppressively. Even a minister’s pledge to return land unjustly taken by the army in the North to build a Buddhist temple may come up against opposition although this does offer a chance to show that promises of justice for all are genuine.

There is also the ingrained conservatism in much of society which may get in the way of, for instance, decriminalisation of LGBTQ people as well as some measures to reduce gender-based violence and strengthen women’s rights although there are also Sri Lankans whose faith leads them to push for greater inclusion and equity. At present, the strong mandate for progressive change could be used to win support for moving forward on various fronts.

Yet the new leadership also faces its own temptations including bolstering its privileges and control. When in power it may be hard to let go of dubious legislation in case it comes in handy in dealing with opponents. And ingrained acceptance of Sinhalese Buddhist supremacism, even of a less extreme form, as well as caution about alienating those who have served in the armed forces, may make it harder to move forward on accountability for past abuses.

However, while tact may be needed to reduce defensiveness among ordinary people with military connections, failure to address what happens not only hurts survivors and the bereaved but also leaves a moral void about whether human rights and international humanitarian law should and will apply during violent conflicts. This makes it hard to resist the glorification of LTTE leaders’ misdeeds and glossing over of mass killings of non-combatants in the South in the late 1980s, sometimes by the same military leaders who would go on to disregard the safety of Tamil civilians in the final stages of the civil war. While ordinary soldiers may have acted in good faith or occasionally been carried away, the handful who deliberately and systematically failed to protect the defenceless hardly deserve to be feted as heroes.

If substantial progress is made towards a more just, healthy and safe society in the year ahead, even if this does not go as far as some hope, this will be valuable. However, if the NPP fails to draw on its current strength to achieve positive change in the near future, those who propelled it to power will turn against it. More worryingly, cynicism will set in with potential societal breakdown. And extreme nationalism will rise again, including the revival of the fortunes of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s associates, as well as minority disaffection.

Failure to make use of present opportunities will be dangerously costly in future. Although difficult choices will have to be made, boldness in seeking to do what is right and safeguard the dignity and well-being of all, especially those who are marginalized, will be of vital importance in 2025.

-Savitri Hensman is an activist and writer based in the United Kingdom and this article was originally featured on groundviews.org