AKD’s public satisfaction rises to 75% from 42% election vote as Sajith slips to 29%

Muslims and Malaiyaha Tamils show highest satisfaction with AKD   

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Nearly one and a half years after the 2024 Presidential Election, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s public satisfaction rating has climbed to 75.5%, according to the latest Confidence in Democratic Governance Index released by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), while satisfaction with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stands at 29.4%.  

The findings come against the backdrop of the 2024 Presidential Election, in which Dissanayake secured 42.31% of the vote to win the presidency, while Premadasa polled 32.76%.    Although election results and public satisfaction ratings measure different things, the latest survey points to a marked increase in public satisfaction with the President since he assumed office, while satisfaction with the Opposition Leader is lower than his presidential vote share.

The nationwide survey found that 75.5% of respondents were satisfied with President Dissanayake’s performance, compared with 29.4% for Premadasa. It also found that only 23.3% were dissatisfied with the President’s performance, while 64.9% expressed dissatisfaction with the Opposition Leader.  

President Dissanayake’s satisfaction rating was highest among the Malaiyaha Tamil community at 94.4%, followed by the Muslim community at 93.4%. Although the rating was lowest among the Sinhala community, a majority of 69.9% of Sinhala respondents also expressed satisfaction with his performance.  

The survey further found that the President enjoyed his strongest support among those aged 18 to 29, with an approval rating of 81.6%, and among rural residents, where 76.4% expressed satisfaction. In contrast, satisfaction with Premadasa remained comparatively low across all demographic groups.  

Meanwhile, the survey found that 51.6% of Sri Lankans were satisfied with the government’s progress in investigating the Easter Sunday attacks and holding those responsible accountable, while 32.4% expressed dissatisfaction.  

Satisfaction over the government’s handling of the Easter Sunday investigations was highest among the Muslim community at 73.3%, followed by the Malaiyaha Tamil community at 72.2%. Among Sinhala respondents, satisfaction stood at 46.4%, while 37.2% expressed dissatisfaction.  

The survey also found that younger respondents were more positive about the government’s progress on Easter Sunday investigations, with 58.5% of those aged 18–29 expressing satisfaction compared to 48% among those above 30 years. Rural residents recorded higher satisfaction (52.5%) than urban residents (44.3%).  

The nationwide survey, conducted among 1,240 respondents across all 25 districts between May 23 and June 18, also found that 62.8% of Sri Lankans were satisfied with the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s capacity to deliver efficient governance.  

On the cost of living, public opinion remained divided, with 45.3% expressing satisfaction with the government’s management of the issue, while 44% were dissatisfied.