Tug of War for the control of Sri Lanka's Student Union: Frontier Socialist Party and JVP Clash for Control of 'Anthare'

Photo Credit: BBC Sinhala

By Miyuru Rasoj

The clash for control over Sri Lanka's Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) has intensified into a fierce political battleground between the Frontier Socialist Party (FSP) and the ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), two leftist factions whose rivalry now extends from national politics into university campuses across the island.

This power clash has taken on new dimensions since the JVP's historic electoral victory in 2024, which saw party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected as President and the JVP-led National People's Power (NPP) coalition secure a parliamentary supermajority. The political realignment has created unprecedented tensions within the student movement, fundamentally altering the dynamics of university activism.

Historical Context and Control Shift

The IUSF, established in 1969 and comprising over 70 affiliated student unions representing more than 95% of state higher education institutions in Sri Lanka, has long served as a powerful voice for the country's internal politics. For decades, the organization operated under JVP influence through.

However, a significant transformation occurred around 2012 when the FSP, formed as a JVP breakaway faction, gradually assumed control of the IUSF. The FSP emerged from internal JVP divisions, with leaders like Premakumar Gunaratnam criticizing the parent party for abandoning its revolutionary principles in favor of parliamentary politics.

Academic research confirms this transition: "The IUSF is allied politically with Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), which was formed in 2012 by a group of members who split off from JVP". This shift represented more than a simple leadership change – it marked a fundamental ideological realignment within Sri Lanka's student movement.

Campus Clashes and Physical Confrontations

The rivalry between FSP-backed and JVP-backed student groups has repeatedly erupted into violent confrontations on university campuses. Most notably, Sri Jayewardenepura University was forced to close temporarily in September 2024 following clashes between JVP students from the Management Faculty and FSP students from the Arts Faculty.

These incidents reflect deeper political tensions. Reports indicate that "members of the FSP's student wing, which holds power in the student unions, attacked a group of students affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna". Similar confrontations occurred in February 2023 over arrangements for Valentine's Day celebrations, resulting in property damage and student injuries.

The FSP has maintained its stronghold through what critics describe as bureaucratic control methods. As one analysis noted, "the FSP has controlled the IUSF bureaucratically" since taking over from the JVP. This control extends to the organization's most visible position – the convenor post, currently held by Madhushan Chandrajith, who was appointed in May 2023 replacing Wasantha Mudalige.

Recent Leadership Disputes

The struggle for IUSF control reached new heights in July 2025 when a rival student group claiming JVP backing announced the formation of an alternative IUSF structure with a new convenor. The breakaway faction, led by Sasindu Perera, declared that "the era of students being manipulated to serve the interests of certain political parties has come to an end".

The established IUSF leadership strongly rejected these claims, accusing the government of attempting to create chaos within the student movement. In an official statement, the FSP-controlled IUSF alleged that this was "being done using their party representatives as university student leaders to push through their privatization plans in the education sector".

Political Implications and Government Relations

The JVP's ascension to power has fundamentally altered the political calculus surrounding student activism. With the party now governing the country, its relationship with student politics has become increasingly complex. The FSP-controlled IUSF finds itself in the unusual position of opposing a government led by its former parent organization.

This tension manifested when IUSF convener Chandrajith met with newly appointed Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya in October 2024 but reported receiving no "positive response" to student demands. The meeting highlighted the awkward dynamics between the FSP-controlled student federation and the JVP-led government.

The government's response has included attempts to limit student activism through administrative measures. University authorities have issued directives prohibiting student union activities, including banning lectures critical of government policy. Such actions have only intensified the political rivalry on campuses.

Ideological Dimensions

Beyond organizational control, the FSP-JVP rivalry reflects deeper ideological differences about the direction of leftist politics in Sri Lanka. The FSP positions itself as maintaining authentic revolutionary principles, criticizing the JVP for compromising its Marxist-Leninist foundations in pursuit of electoral success.

FSP leaders have accused the JVP of implementing "IMF austerity agenda" despite opposition rhetoric. This criticism extends to student politics, where the FSP portrays itself as defending genuine anti-establishment activism against what it sees as the JVP's accommodation with mainstream political structures.

The JVP, conversely, argues that its electoral success represents legitimate democratic transformation and that student politics should align with broader progressive governance rather than perpetual opposition. This fundamental disagreement about strategy and principles underlies much of the campus-level conflict.

Impact on Student Movement

The prolonged rivalry has significantly affected the coherence and effectiveness of Sri Lanka's student movement. Instead of presenting a unified voice on educational issues, students find themselves divided between competing political factions, each claiming authentic representation of student interests.

This fragmentation has practical consequences for student advocacy. Major protests and campaigns now often feature rival demonstrations, with JVP-backing and FSP-backing student groups organizing separate events. Such division potentially weakens the overall impact of student activism on national policy.

The situation has also created confusion among ordinary students who must navigate between competing claims to IUSF legitimacy. With both factions using similar logos, letterheads, and organizational names, many students struggle to identify genuine student leadership.

Future Outlook

The tug of war between the FSP and JVP for IUSF control appears likely to continue as both parties view student politics as crucial for their broader political strategies. The JVP's governmental position provides it with significant advantages, including access to state resources and the ability to influence university administration policies.

However, the FSP's established control over IUSF structures and its positioning as the authentic voice of student opposition provides considerable defensive capabilities. The party's ability to frame government policies as betrayals of leftist principles resonates with many politically conscious students.

The ultimate resolution of this rivalry may depend on broader political developments in Sri Lanka, including public assessment of the JVP government's performance and the FSP's ability to maintain credible opposition politics. For now, Sri Lankan students remain caught between these competing visions of leftist political activism, with their primary representative organization serving as the main battleground for this ideological conflict.

The struggle reflects larger questions about the role of student politics in democratic societies and the relationship between political parties and civil society organizations. As Sri Lanka navigates its post-crisis political landscape, the outcome of this battle for student union control will likely influence the country's broader political trajectory and the future of youth activism on the island.