One year into tenure: NPP Govt faces test of rhetoric and delivery

The National People’s Power (NPP) government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has now completed a year into its tenure. It is now at a critical juncture where people watch whether its campaign rhetoric meets delivery on the ground. The NPP was swept into office on a wave of anti-establishment sentiments that arose in the wake of the 2022 economic crisis. People rejected the two key political forces that had called the shots in Sri Lanka since independence and installed President Dissanayake in office as he promised sweeping economic reforms, social justice, and clean politics. His administration now faces the inevitable test of delivery. One-year period is a short duration for any government to deliver on all its promises because some steps have to be taken in the long run only. Still, it is a period long enough to offer the direction in which the government is heading. Daily Mirror examines the NPP’s key promises and their status of delivery.   

IMF driven economic reform agenda
Promise: In the run up to the presidential election that concluded on September 21, 2024, the NPP leaders were heard saying on election platforms that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will be re-negotiated to cushion the burden on people.   
Current Status: The new government, instead, pressed ahead with the programme since it was concerned that any adjustment or amendment would derail macro-economic stability gained so far under reforms already initiated. The programme is in progress even with the multilateral lending agencies such as the World Bank now affirming stability achieved so far.   
Within the first six months of this year, the state revenue amounted to Rs.2321 billion as against Rs. 1864 billion reported during the same period of last year. The government needs to sustain an economic growth of above five percent. However, the projected growth rate for this is way less than that.   

Corruption /Governance Reform
Promise: NPP campaigned heavily on its commitment to end corruption, recover stolen assets and punish wrong doers.   
Current status: A new law is now in place for stolen asset recovery but no action has been taken to identify whether there are any such stolen assets stashed elsewhere, and if so, recover them. In fact, ruling party MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi who spoke of the need to bring back such stolen assets allegedly parked in Uganda during election times has now become a laughing stock.   
It has also taken legal action against past politicians who face allegations of misappropriation of public funds. Two former Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando are now in jail.   

Pruning perks/ benefits of MPs and former Presidents
Promise: The NPP leaders vowed to prune benefits of parliamentarians and former Presidents   
Current Status: The government has passed a piece of legislation denying benefits of former Presidents such as residences, vehicles and secretariat allowances. The government also did not give any permit for MPs to import vehicles under duty free concessions.   

Electricity and fuel pricing 
Promise: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged that he would reduce electricity prices by one-third upon election to office. He promised to give similar effects to fuel pricing.   
Current Status: Electricity prices were revised upward instead. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has approval for a further hike of prices. The IMF has prescribed cost-reflective pricing for fuel and electricity.   

Cabinet of Ministers
Promise: Reduction of Cabinet Sizes   
Delivery: It is a promise well achieved by the government right from the beginning. The government pledged to appoint a Cabinet of 25. Instead, a Cabinet of 21 has been appointed. There are 29 deputy ministers.   

Energy Sector 
Promise: The government promised to prioritize renewable energy with an ambitious target of 70 percent by 2023   
Status: Some planning and announcements appear to be in place for renewable energy research and prioritization. The government recently launched one renewable energy project in Monaragala.   

Rights / Governance / Legal Reforms
Promise: The government pledged to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).   
Status: Action has now been taken to repeal it to be replaced with a new counter terrorism law. The proposed law is to be gazetted later this month.   
Promise: The establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is yet another electoral promise.   
Status: It has not yet materialized in a concrete form.   

Election
The government promised to conduct the election to the provincial councils. However, no concrete action has been taken so far for the conduct of elections despite repeated assurances.   

Eradication of Crimes
Promise: The NPP promised to end drug menace and other forms of organized crimes   
Status: Action has been taken to net organized criminals and curb drug trafficking   

Investigation into bond fraud
Promise: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake promised to initiate investigations into the Central Bank bond fraud that took place during the time of the Yahapalana government. He even promised to take action to bring then Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore .   
Status: No action has been taken in this regard. Mr. Mahendran is still at large.