By Kithmi Gunaratne
Sixteen years on, Sri Lanka awaits a reinventory. Since the successful victory from a thirty year war in 2009, the country still awaits peace, reconciliation, development and an improved quality of life for its people. The people of this country has continued to suffer due to many reasons and since of late, the country has suffered immensely as result of the covid-19 pandemic, the Easter Sunday attacks and most prominently as a result of the country’s economic collapse in 2019 which leads us to the question, Why does prosperity remain elusive for a country so naturally gifted? The answer remains quite simple and straightforward, over the years the political elites have used patronage networks to distribute state resources, fostering inefficiencies and eroding institutional integrity.
Over the decades, infrastructure and public services such as health, education, transportation, and utilities have suffered from misallocation of funds, bloated contracts, and nepotistic appointments. Major scandals exposed large‐scale misuse of state‐owned enterprises, crony contracts, and opaque procurement practices.
I argue that Sri Lanka’s persistent underdevelopment stems largely from the failure of its political leaders to work collaboratively and establish coherent systems of governance aimed at the nation’s long-term advancement. Rather than uniting around policies that promote stability and growth, political leaders have often prioritized personal and party interests, manipulating their voter bases through divisive ideologies and short-term populism. This cycle of political fragmentation and opportunism has prevented the creation of consistent, visionary policies ultimately stalling the country’s progress and undermining its immense potential. Quantitative measures have affirmed how seriously corruption has undermined Sri Lanka’s socio‐economic progress.
In the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, Sri Lanka scored 32 out of 100 , placing it at 121 out of 180 countries, indicating worsening perception over recent years. Between January and July of one recent year, Sri Lanka’s anti‐corruption commission received 1,749 complaints, but only 42 cases were formally filed and 8 convictions achieved and those largely involving lower‐level functionaries. These deficits in accountability weaken investor confidence, reduce public trust, deter foreign direct investment, and divert resources from essential services all contributing to underdevelopment.
Moreover, ethnic tensions and a prolonged history of civil conflict have also diverted valuable national resources away from economic growth, social welfare, and reconciliation efforts. The 26-year civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which ended in 2009, left behind large physical destruction. The war consumed billions of dollars displacing communities and challenging the day to day survival of its people socially, economically as well as psychologically.
Even after the conflict ended, the promise of peace was undermined by corruption and political favoritism. Instead of focusing on inclusive reconstruction and equitable regional development, the country’s corruption undermined the nation’s ability to reach its true potential. Consequently, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, the pillars of sustainable progress remain underfunded and unevenly distributed. Many rural and war-affected regions still struggle with poor access to schools, hospitals, and employment opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. This failure to convert post-war stability into genuine development has deepened public frustration and widened the gap between potential and reality, preventing Sri Lanka from achieving the prosperity its resources could easily sustain.
In its truest form, Sri Lanka’s struggle is not due to a lack of resources, but a lack of integrity, foresight, and accountability in using them. Without tackling corruption and fostering transparent governance, no amount of natural wealth can lift the country to its true potential.
The question we must now confront is: how do we uplift our nation and restore hope to its people?
In the Sri Lankan political context, the answer begins with confronting the deeply rooted culture of corruption and political patronage that has long undermined governance. To move forward, Sri Lanka must strengthen the rule of law and institutional accountability, ensuring that anti-corruption bodies such as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) operate independently, free from political interference. Transparent public procurement processes, digital governance systems, and open data initiatives can help minimize opportunities for misuse of funds.
Equally important is the need for political reform and civic education, to cultivate leaders driven by service rather than self-interest, and citizens empowered to demand integrity and efficiency from those in power. Encouraging youth participation in politics, promoting ethical leadership training, and enforcing strict financial disclosures for public officials can all help rebuild trust in the political system. Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s path to renewal depends not merely on economic recovery, but on a moral and institutional transformation, one that replaces corruption with transparency, division with unity, and despair with collective purpose.
In the eloquent words of Yasmine Gooneratne“At last exposed, Sri Lanka [still ]burns alive.”
Today, the battlefields may be quiet, yet the nation still embers in the fires of corruption, mismanagement, and political self-interest.The agony of the people, their hopes and dreams, continue to be consumed by systems that fail to serve them. Only by confronting these inner flames, restoring integrity, promoting unity, and placing the public good above personal gain can Sri Lanka transform its suffering into renewal. The war may have ended, but the fight for a just, transparent, and prosperous nation continues.
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