The Impact of Electoral Reform on Ethno-Political Violence: A Comparative Analysis of Post-2015 Constitutional Changes in Sri Lanka

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 9, No. 7, July 2018 | pp. 910–918

DOI: 10.46882/2018/GJPCS/090701

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Impact of Electoral Reform on Ethno-Political Violence: A Comparative Analysis of Post-2015 Constitutional Changes in Sri Lanka

Authors: Ranil S. Jayawardene¹, Kumari M. Perera²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Political Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka; ²International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Abstract:
This paper evaluates how the structural shift from a semi-presidential system to an enhanced parliamentary framework under the 19th Amendment impacted ethno-political violence and minority representation in post-war Sri Lanka. Using an institutional approach mixed with field interviews conducted across Northern and Eastern provinces from 2016 to 2017, we analyze the shifting patterns of state-minority tensions. The empirical findings reveal that while reducing executive presidential power lowered national-level zero-sum political conflict, decentralized security vacuums emerged at local administrative levels. Our regression models establish a high correlation (R² = 0.64, p < 0.01) between weak central police oversight and a 38% increase in localized communal hate speech campaigns targeting religious minorities. The data demonstrates that structural electoral adjustments failed to institutionalize deep-rooted inter-ethnic reconciliation due to the persistence of exclusionary nationalist networks within regional governance bodies. The study concludes that legislative devolution cannot prevent identity-driven clashes unless accompanied by independent judicial enforcement systems that actively penalize local human rights violations.

Keywords: Electoral Reform; Ethno-Political Violence; Sri Lanka; Minority Rights; Constitutional Engineering; Devolution

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 28, 2018; Revised: May 18, 2018; Accepted: June 05, 2018; Published: July 15, 2018

Citation: Jayawardene, R. S., & Perera, K. M. (2018). The Impact of Electoral Reform on Ethno-Political Violence: A Comparative Analysis of Post-2015 Constitutional Changes in Sri Lanka. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 9(7), 910–918. DOI: 10.46882/2018/GJPCS/090701

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