2023 was a transitional year for Sri Lanka as it continued to recover from its worst economic crisis since independence. While the previous year’s mass Aragalaya (“struggle” in Sinhalese) protests in response to the crisis kicked out the previous government, many economic and political realities remained the same. Sri Lanka continued to attempt to balance relationships with regional heavyweights China and India amid intensified geopolitical competition in its neighborhood. At home, a newly installed government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe resorted to familiar authoritarian and anti-democratic practices to quell dissent, especially against minority populations. With presidential elections set to take place in 2024, Sri Lanka is at an important crossroads in its economic and political future. It must decide between implementing politically convenient band-aid solutions or resolving the structural problems that predate its crisis.