Elite Politics and its Place in Political Landscape a Case Study of Regime Change in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The political elite of many third world countries has played a crucial role for shaping socio political structures. Sri Lanka is a case in point. This paper attempts to critically examine the role played by the political elite of Sri Lanka in recent power struggles and the presidential election of 2015 and the parliamentary election held in the same year. Based on the in-depth depth interviews held by high level political activist of the rainbow grouping who could be identified as political elite, the paper also examines the dynamics and challenges faced by the political elite under the present political structure.