Title of the Article Constitutionalism and Democratic Governance in South Asia: A Comparative Study of the Constitutions of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Authors and Affiliations Dr. Priyanka Sambhaji Jadhavar Assistant Professor, Department of Law Shivaj

Title of the Article Constitutionalism and Democratic Governance in South Asia: A Comparative Study of the Constitutions of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Authors and Affiliations Dr. Priyanka Sambhaji JadhavarAssistant Professor, Department of LawShivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Ganesh Shrirang NaleDepartment of SociologyCentral University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, Haryana, India Description (Title, Authors, Affiliations, and Abstract Overview) Constitutionalism and Democratic Governance in South Asia: A Comparative Study of the Constitutions of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, authored by Dr. Priyanka Sambhaji Jadhavar (Shivaji University, Kolhapur) and Ganesh Shrirang Nale (Central University of Haryana), offers a rigorous comparative constitutional analysis of two significant South Asian constitutional systems shaped by post-colonial political realities. The article examines how the constitutions of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh embody democratic ideals such as popular sovereignty, separation of powers, fundamental rights, and judicial review, while simultaneously confronting political instability, executive dominance, and constitutional amendments. Using a doctrinal and comparative methodology, the study analyses constitutional texts, amendments, judicial interpretations, and scholarly debates. Special emphasis is placed on Sri Lanka’s executive presidency and unitary structure, contrasted with Bangladesh’s parliamentary framework and the judiciary-developed basic structure doctrine. The article argues that despite strong constitutional commitments to democracy, constitutional practice in both states often reflects tensions between legal ideals and political realities. Judicial independence, constitutional morality, and political culture are identified as decisive factors in sustaining democratic governance. The study contributes meaningfully to comparative constitutional law and post-colonial governance discourse in South Asia. Keywords (Paragraph Form) The key themes explored in this article include constitutionalism, comparative constitutional law, democratic governance, Sri Lanka Constitution, Bangladesh Constitution, fundamental rights, separation of powers, judicial review, executive power, constitutional amendments, basic structure doctrine, secularism, constitutional morality, judicial independence, post-colonial constitutionalism, and South Asian political systems.