A recent survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has brought to light concerning trends regarding democratic governance in Sri Lanka.
Titled ‘Survey on Democracy and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka,’ the survey, carried out in January, encompassed 1,350 participants across 25 districts. It revealed shifting attitudes toward authoritarianism and declining trust in democratic institutions.
The findings indicate that approximately 1 in 10 Sri Lankans expressed a preference for authoritarian rule, marking a notable increase since 2018.
While the majority still favor democratic governance, the survey highlighted a troubling sentiment suggesting that “In certain situations, a dictatorial government can be preferable to a democratic one.”
The CPA, a prominent policy think-tank headquartered in Colombo, underscored that the surge in support for authoritarianism correlated with the political tumult during the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government in 2018. This trend implies a vulnerability to embracing authoritarian rule amidst discontent with democratic governance.
Moreover, the survey unveiled a significant decline in public trust toward parliamentary institutions and political parties.
Source – dailymirror.lk
