A recent EU-funded survey has revealed that dynastic politics, once a dominant force in Sri Lankan politics and across South Asia, is no longer a key factor influencing voters’ decisions.
The survey was conducted under the project “Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy,” led by the National Peace Council (NPC) in collaboration with PAFFREL, AWAW, CCT, and Women and Democracy (W&D) in the Maldives.
According to the findings, 86% of respondents preferred candidates with strong educational backgrounds, indicating a shift towards competency-based leadership over family-based political legacies.
The 2022 Aragalaya protest movement played a pivotal role in shaping public political awareness, with 53% of participants viewing its impact as positive, while only 13% perceived it negatively.
The survey also exposed a gender gap in political interest, with 37% of men expressing high political engagement compared to just 17% of women.
On political literacy, 83% of respondents believed they were informed enough to make independent voting decisions, although 12% admitted to being influenced by family, religious leaders, or media narratives.
Traditional patronage-based election tactics such as vote-buying, food aid, and job promises appear to be losing appeal, with nearly 50% of respondents rejecting these strategies in favor of policy-focused leadership.
The key issues driving voter preferences include economic crisis resolution (92.9%), anti-corruption efforts (83.3%), and candidates’ educational qualifications (85.6%).
The report underscores a growing public demand for systemic political change in Sri Lanka, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with traditional political parties and practices.
