Sri Lanka's Governance Crisis: The Urgent Need for OGP Recommitment

Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture, grappling with a governance crisis that threatens its economic recovery and democratic stability. The new government's unresponsiveness to civil society groups' calls for recommitment to the Open Government Partnership (OGP) underscores a broader pattern of weak consultative governance. This inaction not only risks Sri Lanka's expulsion from the OGP but also jeopardizes the country's efforts to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and strengthen governance.

The OGP, founded in 2011, is a multilateral global initiative aimed at seeking commitments from governments to implement governance reforms in collaboration with civil society. With 75 member countries and thousands of civil society organizations, the OGP has become a crucial platform for promoting open, inclusive, and participatory governance. Under the OGP mandate, members are required to create a two-year National Action Plan through a multi-stakeholder process. Sri Lanka, which joined the OGP in 2017, has a history of failing to submit its National Action Plan, leading to its designation as 'inactive' by the global OGP Steering Committee in May 2024.

The political shift in 2024, marked by the election sweep of the National People’s Power party, raised hopes that Sri Lanka would abide by its commitments to the OGP. However, the new administration's continued silence on this matter has frustrated civil society groups, who have been advocating for a renewed commitment to the OGP. On May 7, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, as co-conveners of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) involved in Sri Lanka’s OGP process, urged the government to recommit to the OGP amid the risk of its expulsion. They emphasized that restoring trust in public institutions required a firm commitment to open, inclusive, and participatory governance that reflects the voices and needs of the people.

The current frustration from Sri Lankan civil society groups is underpinned by a long pattern of neglect by previous governments. From 2021 to 2023, successive governments failed to submit a National Action Plan under the OGP, prompting the global OGP Steering Committee to designate Sri Lanka as ‘inactive’ in a resolution passed on 10 May 2024. To restore its active status, Sri Lanka was due to submit a new Action Plan by 10 May 2025, but the current administration has yet to comply.

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has been vocal about the government's inaction, stating that "The government’s inaction - while retaining draconian legislation - exposes its indifference to constitutional freedoms. FMM demands immediate recommitment to OGP with civil society to repeal anti-media laws; embed press freedom in the National Action Plan and guarantee transparent policymaking. Media freedom cannot survive without institutional checks. The OGP is our last firewall against authoritarian regression."

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) also believes that it is crucial to re-engage the current Sri Lankan government in a participatory governance model that includes civil society organisations. They noted that "In the past, the Sri Lankan government has had positive experiences working with such civil organisations to implement ‘Good Governance.’ Reviving this approach could lead to more effective and accountable governance."

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to legislative reform, stating that "Press freedom can only thrive within a functioning democracy, and the continued neglect of participatory governance and civil society engagement raises serious questions about the administration’s commitment to legislative reform. It is urgent that press freedom is front and centre of such a discussion."

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka, which led to the country defaulting on its external debt of over USD 40 billion, was partly due to corrupt governance. The IMF's Governance Diagnostic Assessment highlighted "governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities" that represent obstacles to economic recovery. Failure to address these issues could lead to further economic instability, making it difficult for the country to attract investment.

The IMF's bailout agreement with Sri Lanka, worth US $3 billion, requires the government to implement open government reforms that meet the IMF's governance conditions. Failure to recommit to the OGP and implement these reforms could jeopardize the bailout, as the IMF may withhold further financial assistance. This could exacerbate Sri Lanka's economic crisis, which has already seen a severe depreciation of the currency, curtailed essential imports, and a default on external debt of over USD 40 billion.

The OGP's multi-stakeholder process, which involves collaboration with civil society, is crucial for effective governance reforms. Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Sri Lanka, such as Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) and the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, have been advocating for open government reforms aligned with OGP values. Their involvement is essential for ensuring that the reforms are implemented effectively and that there is accountability for their implementation. The continued inaction of the Sri Lankan government in recommitting to the OGP could undermine these efforts, leading to a lack of trust in public institutions and further weakening the government's ability to implement necessary reforms.

The Aragalaya, or mass uprising, in 2022 was a response to the consequences of corrupt governance, impunity, and the abuse of political power. The protests ultimately forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee the country. The OGP's commitment to open, inclusive, and participatory governance could help restore trust in public institutions and prevent future uprisings, thereby promoting economic stability and recovery.

In conclusion, the Sri Lankan government's continued inaction on recommitting to the OGP could have severe consequences for its economic recovery efforts. It could jeopardize the IMF bailout, undermine governance reforms, and exacerbate the economic crisis. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to recommit to the OGP and implement the necessary reforms to promote transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures.