The landslide victory of the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition in last week’s parliamentary elections marks more than just another changing of the guard; it represents a quiet revolution at the ballot box that dismantled a political order that has dominated Sri Lanka since its independence in 1948.

For decades, Sri Lankan politics has been a game of musical chairs played by a handful of political dynasties, who took turns at the helm, their family names serving as both a ticket to power and a shield from accountability. That era has now come to an unceremonious end, with voters delivering a devastating verdict on dynastic politics by handing the NPP an overwhelming two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. In a region where family names still hold enormous political capital, Sri Lanka’s voters have chosen to break free from this feudal hangover of electoral politics. They have demonstrated that when pushed to the brink by economic mismanagement and corruption, people can overcome deeply entrenched voting patterns that have historically favoured political families.

What makes this revolution particularly remarkable is its comprehensive nature. The NPP’s victory cuts across Sri Lanka’s ethnic and religious divides, securing unprecedented support in Tamil-majority districts and among Muslim communities. This suggests that the appeal of competence and good governance can transcend the identity politics that have long fragmented Sri Lankan society.

The roots of this transformation lie in the spectacular failure of the old guard. When the Rajapaksa dynasty, through catastrophic economic policies and rampant corruption, drove Sri Lanka into its worst economic crisis since independence, they inadvertently created the perfect conditions for their own obsolescence. The sight of ordinary citizens storming the presidential palace in 2022 was just a preview of the electoral storm that would follow.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his NPP coalition represent something novel in Sri Lankan politics—leadership based on merit rather than inheritance. Their success offers a powerful lesson for other developing democracies: voters, when pushed far enough, will choose capability over legacy and fresh ideas over familiar names.

However, the hard part begins now. The NPP inherits a nation grappling with high inflation, crippling debt, and widespread poverty. Their success in managing these challenges will determine whether Sri Lanka’s democratic revolution becomes a model for other nations or a cautionary tale about the perils of radical change. Thankfully, we have already seen some positive initiatives from President Dissanayake, as well as progressive milestones such as an increase in the number of women MPs.

Sri Lanka’s peaceful political transition offers hope to other democracies struggling with entrenched systems. It demonstrates that democratic institutions, despite their flaws, can facilitate transformative change when people demand it.

For Sri Lankans, this election represents more than just a change in government – they have chosen to entrust their future  to those who promise competence and accountability. In doing so, they have written a new chapter in their nation’s history.