Is Dynastic Politics Changing?

by manthri.lk - Research Team posted over 9 years ago in Analysis

A previous manthri.lk analysis revealed that 20% of parliamentarians benefited from dynastic influence. On the flip side, how are current parliamentarians ensuring that their dynasties continue?

UNF more dynastic in the past: As a proportion of their coalition, the UNF have benefited more from dynastic influence than the UPFA. 17 of the 42 MPs in the UNF are direct beneficiaries of political family members (Exhibit 1).


                              



UPFA display more dynastic tendencies: Election to Provincial councils is often perceived as a stepping stone to the national parliament. And the UPFA MPs are more proactive in charting this course for the future generation (Exhibit 2).  


                              


Of the 15 MPs that have a child in any level of elected political office (national, provincial or PS), 14 are from the UPFA. All of their children are provincial council members, except two; Vidura Wickrmanayake, son of Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, who is in national parliament and Rasika Ekanayake, son of W.B. Ekanayake, who sits in the Manupa Pradeshiya Sabha.

The opposition only has Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNF), whose son Asanka Perera sits in the North Western provincial council.

SLFP paternal instincts strongest: Furthermore, 13 of the 14 UPFA paternal MPs are from the SLFP, the exception being Abdul Cader, a UNP crossover MP.

Do these findings illustrate a partial shift in political culture? Or are these findings symptomatic of the health of the UNP and SLFP? Share your thoughts with us at www.manthri.lk/en/blog; or by text to the manthri.lk hotline: 071-4639882.