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This volume examines and analyses electoral politics in Sri Lanka through the theoretical framework of manipulation. The following questions guided the study: how do political actors manipulate elections, and what are the salient features of electoral politics in Sri Lanka? Primary and secondary data formed the basis of the analysis, examining eight presidential elections. The research findings indicated that Sri Lankan governments, political parties and political leaders have taken advantage of six types of electoral manipulation, including constitutional tinkering, field fixing, time fixing, vote suppression, process manipulation and resource manipulation. Through a close examination of eight presidential elections, research carried out for the volume found that elections are often associated with violence; presidential elections are mainly a majoritarian affair in which minority communities play only a marginal role; there is a significant gender imbalance, as women's participation in the electoral process is very limited; despite the presence of a large number of candidates contesting the election, it always remains a two-way race; and amid extensive manipulation and other problems, voter participation tends to be high.
This volume will be a valuable resource for students, academics and researchers who focus on democracy, good governance, electoral studies and South Asian politics and history, and will enhance the conceptual foundation of democracy advocates and activists.
List of contents
List of figures
List of Tables
The Author
Acronyms and Abbreviations Preface
1 Theoretical Overview
2 Jayewardene in Control (1982)
3 Premadasa’s Struggle (1988)
4 Battle of the Widows (1994)
5 Saved by an LTTE Bomb (1999)
6 Saved by an LTTE Boycott (2005)
7 Reaping Fruits of War Victory (2010)
8 Rise of an Unlikely Hero (2015)
9 The Rajapaksa Comeback (2019)
10 Conclusion
Index
Summary
This volume analyses the manipulation of electoral politics in Sri Lanka and, through examination of recent presidential elections, proposes that elections are often violent; majoritarian; that there is a significant gender imbalance; it remains a two-way race; and voter participation tends to be high.
