Sri Lanka’s stalled constitutional reform deepens ethnic land grievances; systemic power gaps demand inclusive, devolved governance
Original framing: “Dissanayake holds talks with leaders of ethnic minorities, underscores need for ‘national consensus’ on new Constitution” — The Hindu
British colonial cadastral surveys instituted a dual‑record system that privileged Sinhala elites, laying the groundwork for post‑independence land concentration. Subsequent policies, such as the 1972 Land Reform Act, failed to address the dispossession of minority farmers, entrenching grievances that resurfaced during the civil war. Understanding these continuities is essential to break the cycle of structural injustice.
The stalled constitutional reform in Sri Lanka is rooted in a colonial legacy of land dispossession and post‑independence centralisation that marginalises Tamil, Muslim, Dalit, and LGBTQ+ communities.
By integrating indigenous land stewardship, historical redress, and cross‑cultural lessons from South Africa and Canada, a devolved federal framework can dismantle entrenched power asymmetries. Scientific evidence on land insecurity and future climate risks underscores the urgency of transparent restitution mechanisms, while artistic and spiritual expressions provide the cultural glue for reconciliation. Institutionalising inclusive participatory processes and robust civil‑society oversight will translate these systemic insights into durable governance, preventing the trickster illusion of consensus that currently masks exclusion.