Academics, legal experts and civil society leaders from across South Asia gather in Sri Lanka’s capital for a three-day conference examining the region’s democratic traditions, current pressures and pathways for renewal.
Academics, legal experts and civil society representatives from across South Asia convened in Colombo on 3 November 2026 for the opening of the South Asia Democracy Conference 2026. The three-day gathering focuses on strengthening democratic institutions, addressing shared regional challenges and exploring both the historical roots and future prospects of democracy in a region home to more than a quarter of the world’s population.
Participants at the opening session included Britta Petersen, Resident Representative and Regional Director for South Asia of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung; Viranjana Herath, Chairperson of the Media Law Forum; and Professor Deepika Udagama, Chair Professor of Law and Head of the Department of Law at the University of Peradeniya. The conference brings together voices from academia, the legal profession and civil society to discuss how democratic practices can be reinforced amid persistent pressures.
Regional Context of Democratic Strain
South Asia has experienced significant democratic turbulence in recent years. According to analyses drawing on the Bertelsmann Transformation Index, no country in the region currently qualifies as a consolidating democracy. India has been classified as a defective democracy since 2016 after earlier higher ratings. Pakistan remains a hard-line autocracy. Bangladesh has operated as a moderate autocracy for several years. Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are also rated as defective democracies, even while maintaining relatively more stable trajectories than some neighbours.
Despite these institutional challenges, citizens across the region have continued to mobilise. Protest activity in South Asia has ranked among the highest globally in recent years, second only to Europe in cumulative terms and the highest of any region in certain recent periods. Mass movements have contributed to the removal of governments in Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024, and have influenced political transitions elsewhere. Yet analysts note that high levels of mobilisation have not automatically translated into deeper democratisation or institutional consolidation.
Sri Lanka’s Recent Political Trajectory
The choice of Colombo as the venue carries particular resonance. Sri Lanka itself underwent a dramatic shift following the 2022 economic crisis and the subsequent Aragalaya protest movement. The National People’s Power (NPP) government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, assumed office after the 2024 elections with a strong parliamentary majority. The administration has pledged reforms aimed at strengthening accountability, reducing corruption and expanding democratic space.
Among the commitments has been the planned abolition of the long-criticised Prevention of Terrorism Act, with new legislation under preparation. Such steps form part of broader efforts to address legacy issues of rights and governance that have shaped the country’s post-conflict landscape. International observers have noted both the opportunities and the continuing tests facing the current government as it seeks to translate electoral mandates into durable institutional change. Related reporting has examined these developments in detail, including Sri Lanka’s moves on counter-terrorism legislation and assessments of its democratic reset.
Focus on Shared Challenges and Traditions
The conference agenda centres on strengthening democracy while confronting regional challenges. Discussions are expected to examine how democratic traditions unique to South Asian societies – ranging from parliamentary practices and federal experiments to civil society activism and media freedoms – can inform responses to contemporary pressures. These include majoritarian tendencies, the use of legal instruments for political ends, constraints on civic space, and the interplay between economic recovery and political openness.
Media freedom and legal frameworks form an important strand of the deliberations. The presence of media law specialists and constitutional scholars underscores attention to the institutional safeguards that underpin open societies. Participants are also likely to consider the role of international solidarity and comparative learning, drawing on experiences from within the region and beyond.
International Engagement and Civil Society Roles
The involvement of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung’s South Asia office highlights the contribution of international partners working with local organisations on issues of social justice, labour rights and democratic discourse. Civil society groups across the region have often served as key defenders of accountability and rights, even under constrained conditions. The conference provides a platform for these actors to exchange strategies and reflect on the limits and possibilities of regional cooperation in support of democratic norms.
The gathering offers insight into a part of the world where democratic aspirations remain strong even as formal indicators of democratic quality have declined in several countries. South Asia’s demographic weight and geopolitical significance mean that the health of its political systems carries implications far beyond the region’s borders – affecting global debates on governance, development and stability.
Democratic Renewal
As the three-day programme continues, participants will explore practical questions of democratic renewal. How can institutions be insulated from erosion? What role can regional dialogue play when formal intergovernmental mechanisms such as SAARC have faced prolonged difficulties? How can the energy of citizen mobilisation be channelled into sustained institutional reform rather than episodic protest?
The conference does not claim to resolve these questions. Its value lies in creating space for rigorous discussion among those closest to the issues. In a region marked by both resilience and fragility in its democratic experiments, such conversations remain essential.
