Unravelling the Researcher's Dilemma, Media Impact, and Moral Complexities in Sri Lanka's “Aragalaya” Political Crisis: Navigating the Ethical Quandary

Introduction: The Aragalaya Protest

In April 2022, the world observed a profound political upheaval in Sri Lanka, triggered by a decree issued by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the then President. Termed the 'Aragalaya' protest, signifying “struggle,” it commenced with a lack of distinct organization, attracting modest participation. However, its momentum surged as independent political thinkers became involved. Their diverse perspectives were disseminated through social media, wielding considerable influence, and ultimately fuelling the protest. This collective struggle emerged as a forceful expression of discontent against the government's policies (Fonseka, 2022). The protest campaign “#GotaGoHome” was primarily ignited by a severe economic crisis and mounting dissatisfaction, exacerbated by the government's failure to address acute poverty, escalating unemployment, widespread hunger, and the distressing conditions wherein people were struggling and succumbing to unmet basic needs fuel, food, electricity, and medicine (Fernando, 2022). Having been predominantly governed by the Rajapaksa brothers for a decade and a half, public outrage surged due to revelations of corruption and fraudulent activities linked to their administration. Sri Lanka's history reveals a troubling trend of inadequate investigation and prosecution regarding severe human rights violations across various administrations. The civil war, culminating in May 2009, implicated figures such as Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and other high-ranking members of the current administration in grave offenses. These included allegations of being involved in the killings and enforced disappearances of journalists, political activists, and the commission of numerous war crimes (Basnayaka, 2022). The recent protests revisited the violent acts associated with this government's past, echoing slogans that highlighted these past atrocities.

Amidst this tumult, individuals from diverse backgrounds—educated, intellectual, and ordinary citizens alike—joined the protest. Their unified voice resonated a collective frustration with the governance and socio-economic conditions prevailing in Sri Lanka (Centre for Policy Alternatives: Social Indicator, 2023). During that period, the government dismissed the protests as part of a supposed state conspiracy and attributed the economic crisis to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Perera, 2023). They also highlighted the crippling effect of the Easter bomb attack on the tourism industry, which led to a decline in foreign exchange reserves. Additionally, the decision to transition to organic farming nationwide was cited as a contributing factor. The government was notably apprehensive about quelling the protests to pre-empt accusations and maintain their standing. This anxiety drove their efforts to suppress the demonstrations (Subramanian, 2022). Under these circumstances, a prominent rallying cry within the struggle became the demand for the resignation of the Rajapaksas from the current government's leadership. Consequently, both the President and the Prime Minister stepped down. However, this transition did not align with conventional democratic electoral procedures. Subsequently, the balance of power seemed to revert in favor of the government faction. It appears they manipulated the situation to their advantage, raising suspicions that they strategically navigated the aspirations of the people (Ellis, 2022; Mel et al., 2023).