Reflections on the Left Movement in Sri Lanka

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In Pathways of the Left in Sri Lanka, the beginnings, role and evolution of a radical social movement is surveyed against the background of almost eight decades of political, social and economic change in the island. The contents of this unique volume, and its diverse contributors, are: Landmarks in the History of the Left: 1935-1980 • Santasilan Kadirgamar • Dialectics of a Modernist Project • Jayadeva Uyangoda • Left and the Trade Union Movement • Vijaya Vidyasagara • Left and the Plantations • Vijaya Kumar • Left and Religion • Paul Caspersz • Left and Mass Media in the 20th century • Ajith Samaranayake • Left Women and Political Participation • Pulsara Liyanage • The ‘New Left’: Its Origins and Characterisation • Gamini Keerawella • “Socialism was in the air” • Wimal Fernando • Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna: An Auto-Critique • Lionel Bopage • Nationalism, Globalisation and the Left • Rohini Hensman • Economic Development: Left Perspectives • Sumanasiri Liyanage • The Left and the State: Some Theoretical Concerns • Ahilan Kadirgamar • Politics of Coalition: On Cross-Class Alliances • Sivaguru Ganesan • Splits and Schisms: The Malady of Sectarianism • Kumar David • Sources on the History of the Left • Eef Vermeij with B. Skanthakumar. This 400 page anthology of papers, articles, interviews and bibliography is edited by Marshal Fernando and B. Skanthakumar and published by the Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue (EISD). It is available from all good bookstores including Suriya Bookshop at No. 12 Sulaiman Terrace, off Jawatte Road in Colombo 5, and may be ordered online from books.lk.