People’s expectations crumble amid the government’s stumble

On  February 15,  a survey carried out by ‘Verité Research’showed the government’s approval rating stood at 65 percent in early February 2026. The report added perceptions of public confidence in the country’s economic direction also showed marked improvement. On  February 23, according to the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka’s national inflation, measured by the NCPI, declined to 2.4% in January 2026 from 2.9% in December the previous year.  

The two news items undoubtedly warmed  our President’s cockles of heart, along with members of his political party the National Peoples Power (NPP) and members of his Cabinet. But ground realities contrast sharply with the positivity expressed by the aforementioned news items.

Today, the government is facing a plethora of problems. One of the biggest challenges is uncertainty among members of the Buddhist clergy. Recently (February 20) a prominent group of Buddhist monks organised a ‘Maha Sangha Conference’.The monks claimed the conference was called to defeat threats currently facing the Buddhist clergy and culture from the  NPP government.

The event drew Buddhist monks from various parts of the country. Several of them publicly accused members of the government of carrying out an anti-Buddhist agenda. Rev. Murruththetuwe Ananda Thero openly charged that no other government had attacked the Buddhist clergy as much as the current regime.

A number of leading politicians attended the conference. Among them were the Leader of the Opposition, former MPs and an ex-Public Security Minister. Large sections of the trade union movement –once staunch government supporters -- are beginning to challenge the government regarding promises made prior to presidential and general elections. While the government has provided minimal increases in wages to workers in the government sector, in the private sector wages have been stagnant. 

Nearly 500,000 temporary workers lost employment during the COVID pandemic of March 2020 followed by the economic crisis in 2022. Many of these workers remain semi-employed. The half completed buildings along the approach roads to Colombo and the yet incomplete highways which provided these workers employment remain half built.

The Ceylon Teachers Union, once very closely affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is threatening to pull its membership out of classrooms and onto the streets over salary issues. Likewise,  workers of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board have commenced trade union action. The Customs Officers trade union too,  has threatened to pull its membership out on strike over diverse issues.  UNICEF reports reveal nearly 25% of the Lanka’s children remain malnourished. Not surprising,  as wages have remained almost stagnant. Today,  the minimum daily wage for a temporary worker is Rs. 1,200/- per day or Rs 31,200/- per month (if the said worker was to work 26 days a month).

Meanwhile,  the cost of having just two meals a day for a family of 4 (father, mother and two children) costs over Rs. 3,000/- per day!  This leaves no money for children’s education, cost of travel, medicines or for clothes! Making matters worse,  for the poorer sections of the community, an island-wide doctor’s strike has paralysed the health services. Doctors are protesting the lack of medicines in government hospitals, among other demands. Their strike has now entered its second week. Bad management has led to a shortage of LP gas in the country. It has resulted in more burdens being placed especially on those living in city slums. According to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) over 50% of Colombo’s population live in these inner cities or slum dwellings. The slums are home to 68,812 families living in 1,499 community clusters.

One of the main promises of the NPP government in the run-up to the elections was to crackdown on corruption. It has made some progress on this subject. But today,  six ministers of the present regime itself are under investigation for corrupt practice. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated the probe under the Money Laundering Act regarding the alleged assets of six ministers of the current NPP government.

Again,  infighting among criminal gangs is leaving a trail of dead bodies in different parts of the country. But, neither the government nor the police appear able to bring their activities to a halt further eroding confidence.

While congratulating the government on the ‘rave ‘ reports it has received from think tanks and its own Department of Census and Statistics, our president and his colleagues need to take note of a tide of growing resentment in the country.