Liberal Party of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Party of Sri Lanka began as a think-tank called the Council for Liberal Democracy, founded in 1981 by the late Dr. Chanaka Amaratunga, a longstanding member of the United National Party
which was then in government.
The CLD broke with the UNP in 1982 over the referendum which postponed parliamentary elections for six years and, after four years of trying to promote liberal thinking
in Sri Lanka
, in particular with regard to constitutional reforms that would promote devolution
along with separation and reduction of powers at the center, Dr Amaratunga and several of his associates established the Liberal Party in February 1987.
Though the Party never established itself as an electoral success, given the need in Sri Lanka for small parties to ally themselves with larger groupings that tend to swamp their individual identity, it has continued to have an impact as a think-tank.
It contributed seminally to the manifestoes put forward by Mrs Bandaranaike
and Gamini Dissanayake
as Presidential candidates in 1988 and in 1994.
In 1996 Dr. Amaratunga died in a car accident, which led to a reduction in party activity since.
However his successor Prof Rajiva Wijesinha
, contested in the Presidential election of 2000 and came 6th in a field of 15, a success that served to advance the image of the party. Kamal Nissanka is the current leader of the Liberal Party.
The party is a member of Liberal International
and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
.
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
which was then in government.
The CLD broke with the UNP in 1982 over the referendum which postponed parliamentary elections for six years and, after four years of trying to promote liberal thinking
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, in particular with regard to constitutional reforms that would promote devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
along with separation and reduction of powers at the center, Dr Amaratunga and several of his associates established the Liberal Party in February 1987.
Though the Party never established itself as an electoral success, given the need in Sri Lanka for small parties to ally themselves with larger groupings that tend to swamp their individual identity, it has continued to have an impact as a think-tank.
It contributed seminally to the manifestoes put forward by Mrs Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike was a Sri Lankan politician and the world's first female head of government...
and Gamini Dissanayake
Gamini Dissanayake
Lionel Gamini Dissanayake was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and a former presidential candidate and Leader of the Opposition.-Early life:...
as Presidential candidates in 1988 and in 1994.
In 1996 Dr. Amaratunga died in a car accident, which led to a reduction in party activity since.
However his successor Prof Rajiva Wijesinha
Rajiva Wijesinha
Rajiva Wijesinha, MA, DPhil is a Sri Lankan writer in English, distinguished for his political analysis as well as creative and critical work...
, contested in the Presidential election of 2000 and came 6th in a field of 15, a success that served to advance the image of the party. Kamal Nissanka is the current leader of the Liberal Party.
The party is a member of Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia. The Council was created on October 15, 1993, in a meeting in Taipei...
.
See also
- LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
- Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theoryIndividual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
- Liberalism worldwideLiberalism worldwideThis article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracyLiberal democracyLiberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
External links
- Liberal Party of Sri Lanka official site
- Liberal Lanka Blog