SEP (Sri Lanka) 2019 presidential election campaign

Workers must adopt a socialist internationalist program to oppose Sri Lanka’s authoritarian, communalist Rajapakse regime

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 7 December 2019

Rajapakse’s aim is to secure the two-thirds parliamentary majority necessary to repeal a key constitutional amendment and give the president sweeping authoritarian powers.

Former top military official wins Sri Lankan presidential election

By K. Ratnayake, 18 November 2019

Gotabhaya Rajapakse’s election marks a sharp shift towards autocratic forms of rule, amid a deepening crisis of Sri Lankan capitalism and the rising resistance of the working class to austerity measures.

Sri Lankan presidential election: Workers must prepare to fight moves towards police-state rule

By K. Ratnayake, 16 November 2019

Calls by the major candidates for “strong government”—code-words for the development of dictatorial methods—are a response to the growing opposition of workers and the poor to government austerity.

Sri Lankan SEP holds final presidential election meeting

By our correspondents, 15 November 2019

The SEP and IYSSE campaigned extensively in Colombo’s working-class neighbourhoods, and amongst students and the urban poor, in the lead-up to the meeting.

Sri Lanka: SEP presidential candidate exposes pseudo-lefts’ pro-capitalist program at university debate

By our correspondents, 13 November 2019

Wijesiriwardena explained the underlying principles of the Socialist Equality Party’s socialist internationalism and the necessity for the independent mobilisation of the working class in every country.

Sri Lankan daily interviews SEP presidential candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena

12 November 2019

Below is the text of Pani Wijesiriwardena's interview by Sri Lanka's leading newspaper, the Daily Mirror, which published it last week under the title “Capitalism offers no solutions to the dangers facing workers: Pani Wijesiriwardena”

Vote for Pani Wijesiriwardena in the Sri Lankan presidential election! Rally to fight for international socialism!

By Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 12 November 2019

Pani Wijesiriwardena is standing on behalf of the Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka on a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program, against imperialist war, social inequality and authoritarian rule.

Sri Lanka: Pseudo-left NSSP promotes UNP presidential candidate

By Vilani Peiris and K. Ratnayake, 11 November 2019

The NSSP and its presidential candidate are trying to tie the working class to the United National Party and capitalist rule.

Build a mass movement to free class-war prisoners Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning

By SEP (Sri Lanka) presidential candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena, 9 November 2019

Assange and Manning are being persecuted because the US and its imperialist allies are preparing for war and want to silence all honest journalists and fighters for the truth.

An appeal from Pani Wijesiriwardena, SEP (Sri Lanka) presidential candidate

Defend the striking transport workers in Telengana, India

8 November 2019

“Workers in India, Sri Lanka, throughout South Asia and internationally must not allow capitalist governments to unleash these reactionary social attacks on any section of the working class.”

Sri Lankan SEP holds presidential election meeting in Hatton

By our correspondents, 6 November 2019

Estate workers, students and youth discussed the necessity for a socialist and internationalist program at a public meeting in the key tea plantation district.

Sri Lanka: SEP presidential candidate addresses meetings in war-ravaged north

By our reporters, 30 October 2019

The SEP presidential candidate explained that the democratic rights of the oppressed can be achieved only in the struggle for socialism.

Sri Lankan SEP holds inaugural presidential election meeting

By our correspondents, 26 October 2019

Speakers explained that the Socialist Equality Party is the only one presenting an international socialist program for the working class and the poor.

Vote for SEP candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena in the Sri Lankan presidential election

Build a socialist movement against imperialist war, austerity and dictatorship

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 25 October 2019

There is no solution to the immense dangers facing workers in Sri Lanka and internationally—war, austerity and the threat of dictatorship and fascism—within the framework of capitalism and its outmoded nation state system.

Sri Lankan SEP and IYSSE hold successful meeting on India’s Kashmir lockdown

By our correspondents, 19 October 2019

“The Modi government’s anti-democratic moves are not just directed against the Kashmiri people, although they are the immediate target, but against the working class as a whole.”

Sri Lankan SEP presidential candidate holds press conference

By our correspondents, 15 October 2019

“This election is being held in the midst of a growing political and economic crisis of the government and the ruling class as a whole.”

Video: SEP presidential candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena addresses nationally-televised meeting in Sri Lanka

By our reporters, 11 October 2019

Wijesiriwardena’s speech was heard by about 4,000 people at the event and watched by tens of thousands across Sri Lanka on two television networks.

Sri Lankan SEP announces presidential election campaign public meetings

9 October 2019

The Socialist Equality Party meetings will discuss the vital social and political issues confronting workers, youth and the poor.

Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka to contest the November presidential election

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 5 October 2019

The election has been announced amid rising opposition to the government’s austerity measures and the eruption of mass strikes by public sector workers for higher pay.