Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Interview with Siritunga Jayasuriya, United Socialist Party’s veteran Trotskyist leader

6 May 2021

The following English language translation of an interview with Siritunga Jayasuriya was conducted by Samantha Rajapaksa and published on the ‘Left Voice’ (Sri Lanka) website.

Siritunga Jayasuriya (Siri) is General Secretary of the United Socialist Party. Siri became a member of the youth league of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in 1964. In 1965 he obtained membership of the party itself with the signed approval of Dr. N. M. Perera, having passed the theoretical and practical membership tests of the party. read more

Sri Lanka Politics 2017
South Asia

Sri Lanka: The year 2017

1 February 2017

The article below was published in the January issue of Red Star, the monthly newspaper of the United Socialist Party (CWI) in Sri Lanka. The party’s general secretary, Sritunga Jayasuriya, outlines the mounting tension in the country as the government, led by the United National Party, tries to force through harsh neo-liberal economic reforms. The president, Maithripala Sirisena, and his supporters in the SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) are working together with the UNP in their onslaught against workers and students. read more

Rajapaksa Sirisena
Sri Lanka

Devil is Replaced with Another

14 January 2015

Tamils in Sri Lanka had turned up in thousands to cast their votes against Mahinda Rajapaksa. After a decade of repression the sudden relief of getting rid of this war monger become an immediate feeling of the majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora. Having voted to get rid of monstrous Mahinda most will agree that the result makes no major change to their aspirations – one devil is replaced with another.Thousands followed the most anticipated election closely, various likely scenarios were discussed but no-one expected Mahinda’s to accept defeat so silently.Heavy military presence, in the name of keeping a peaceful election, was visible in the north and east. There was a sense of fear which spread among those who went to the polling stations.

There are number of questions still hang in the air. Both China and India had sent in their congratulations. Will the replaced government continue its close ties with them? Newly elected Sirisena has insisted that Sri Lanka will continue to build close ties with China, India, Pakistan and Japan equally. At the same time United State Secretary of State John Kerry expressed their desire to work closely with new ‘regime’. US in the past backed UNHRC led war-crime investigation against Mahinda regime. However, Sirisena now promised to protect Mahinda. The political situation in Sri Lanka is looking uncertain. read more

Siritunga Jayasurya
Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Presidential Election January 8, 2015

12 December 2014

Socialist candidate challenges all other forces

Interview with Siritunga Jayasuriya, USP (CWI Sri Lanka)

Among those who oppose the government there is an overwhelming feeling that the opposition should stand together somehow to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa. You also oppose the Rajapaksa regime. How come you are standing independently? read more

Bodu Bala Sena Attack
Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Racist Buddhist mob ambushes United Socialist Party march

27 July 2014

bbsslUnited Socialist Party’s Rally attacked by Bodu Bala Sena!

Comrades of United Socialist Party (CWI-Sri Lanka) including Srinath Perera Piyarathna, Dhammika Silva were brutally attacked by 50 Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) thug Monks and a lorry load of hired goons of around 100. The comrades of the USP were conducting a Motor Cycle Rally in memory of Ernesto Che Guevara and the slogans were against Racism and against Communalism of the right wing Buddhist monks. read more