Abstract:
Political entrepreneurship is the use of political strategies and resources to create and pursue
new opportunities within the political system or in wider society. Political entrepreneurs are
individuals or groups who use their skills, networks, and resources to identify and pursue
opportunities to effect change by influencing public policy. The required data for the study
were gathered through 100 informants through questionnaire and interviews. Researchers
utilise a mixed approach with both qualitative, quantitative methods and document analysis.
The primary purpose of this study was to address the major unique problems of a new
generation of political entrepreneurs of this era. Mainly, the study found that 92% lack
knowledge about the political entrepreneurship and how to make the way with shaping public
policy. 84% mentioned that this concept has not been socialised, because the majority of the
informants were not aware of the political system, public policies and new strategies. While
53% noticed that the political entrepreneurship should be included in education system as a
new subject. The areas of Hirallugama, Ulpathgama and Ralapanawa in Medawachchiya area
are inhabited by people with very minimum living income. They are basically engaged in petty
earning and there is no proper political mechanism to guide them properly. This is why political
entrepreneurship is necessary. It is felt that if political entrepreneurship is activated in these
areas without proper awareness, it will not become an effective outcome in deciding public
policies. Their political knowledge is underdeveloped, and the concept of political
entrepreneurship is not comprehensible to them. Overall findings suggest that political
entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for sense and innovation in Sri Lanka and can
influence public policy in a variety of ways.
