Asia Democracy Research Network: Promoting Democracy through Direct Public Engagement: The Sri Lankan Experience

Abstract

This report uncovers that Sri Lanka operates under a semi-presidential system, with formalized tools for direct democracy like referendums, private members bills, public petitions, and parliamentary questions. However, the study asserts that these mechanisms are currently ineffective and insufficiently utilized. The study highlights key issues, including the limitation of referendums to national matters, the heavy reliance on the president and parliament members for direct democratic tools, and the lack of institutional mechanisms for government accountability. To tackle these problems, the authors propose specific solutions. They suggest a revised referendum system that allows citizen-proposed and local-level initiatives, along with a framework requiring parliamentary follow-through in certain situations. Furthermore, they stress the need for increased monitoring to assess the usage of existing direct democratic mechanisms. Implementing these measures can strengthen Sri Lanka's direct democracy and promote more meaningful citizen participation in governance.