Mass protests across South Asia—from Nepal to Bangladesh and beyond—show rising youth-led resistance against authoritarianism, corruption, and economic woes. These movements prove that people are the final authority, and when pushed, they can make governments fear them 



People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people: Lessons from South Asia

Between 2022 and 2024, protests in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal toppled governments amid economic crises, corruption, and youth-led unrest. Leaders fled as citizens demanded reforms, highlighting growing political instability in India’s neighborhood 

Nepal’s 'Bangladesh-Sri Lanka' deja vu: Three neighbours, three fallen govts — How political turmoil engulfed India’s neighbourhood

Without any voting, the Sri Lankan parliament has passed a retrospective surcharge bill, that will impose a surcharge tax on rich people. A 25 per cent windfall tax will be imposed on those companies and individuals who earned more than 2 billion Sri Lankan rupees in the financial year 2020-21.

Sri Lankan parliament passes bill to impose tax on rich to garner quick revenue

Sri Lankan demonstrators clash with police in violent protest over economic crisis

Sri Lanka may be on a brink of bankruptcy as the island country faces an acute financial crisis topped by a blow to a food supply. As 2022 begins, Sri Lanka is looking to face record-high inflation, financial crisis, exorbitant food prices, humanitarian crisis, and pandemic-induced disruptions. The Sri Lankan government had decided to temporarily ban the use of chemical fertilizers in May 2021. The ban led to protest by farmers ultimately leading to a drastic drop in cultivation in Sri Lanka. Moreover, long queues were seen outside shops for bare necessities lie milk, sugar, and rice. Also, several shops in the markets were shut. Opposition MP Harsha de Silva told Sri Lankan parliament that the country would go bankrupt.

Sri Lanka may go bankrupt in 2022? From financial to food crisis Sri Lanka’s woes amid Covid