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

Abstract

The Aragalaya political conflict in Sri Lanka is a consequence of the country's political mismanagement and rampant corruption. Huge protestation followed amplifying the conflict situation resulting in change of the presidency without a general election. In this context, judgements about the protestors' ethical directions behind the compelling participation in the protest by power exerted over the minds of protesters by media raises serious concerns about their understanding of nationalism and patriotism and how well they use free will and individual values which embellished the political crisis in Sri Lanka. The event has raised conflicting concerns among media researchers due a lack of a self-guiding frame of ethical reference to evaluate the conflicting situation and draw inferences. This chapter presents the contradicting debate behind the ethical move of the protestors, the ethicality of the government and the challenging role of the researchers in approaching the issue to know whose ethics is right about Sri Lankan political protests.