By: Adolf
July 20, LNW (Colombo): The recent CPA survey claiming that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake enjoys a 75% approval rating should be viewed with considerable caution. Public opinion polling in Sri Lanka is highly context-dependent. Approval ratings, personal favourability, voting intention and assessments of policy performance measure fundamentally different aspects of public sentiment and should not be treated as interchangeable.
For many Sri Lankans, the lived reality appears at odds with the narrative suggested by such headline figures. Moreover, the survey compares President Dissanayake directly with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, whose personal ratings have often been weaker than those of other potential opposition figures.
A more informative exercise would be to test public preferences across a broader range of potential candidates, including Dr Harsha de Silva, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Dhammika Perera, Namal Rajapaksa, Chevan Daniel and Dilith Jayaweera. Such a comparison could produce very different outcomes and provide a more comprehensive picture of the electorate’s preferences.
Ultimately, poll results are shaped not only by public sentiment but also by the questions asked, the candidates included, the timing of the survey and the methodology employed. Different scenarios can therefore produce markedly different results.
Arrests
The government’s most visible achievement to date has been its anti-corruption drive, which has seen the arrest of several prominent individuals—many of whom are now out on bail. However, arrests alone do not constitute convictions. While high-profile investigations continue to dominate headlines, several remain unresolved. The tragic death of former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon has also raised serious questions and intensified public debate about accountability, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding his case and other suicides linked to state custody.
COL critical
Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to place immense pressure on households. Many families are struggling with high prices, increased taxation, and stagnant incomes. Businesses continue to grapple with weak demand and rising operating costs, leaving many to wonder whether any genuine economic recovery is being felt beyond the headline statistics.
Government Alleged Corruption
There is also a growing perception among sections of the public that some government scandals and allegations of wrongdoing have not received the same level of urgency or transparency that was promised during the election campaign. Public confidence in governance depends not only on pursuing past wrongdoing but also on ensuring that current administrations are held to the same standards of accountability.
Appointments
Appointments to key public positions—such as that of politician Eran Wickramaratne , Duminda Hulangamuwa—have also attracted criticism, with some questioning whether experience, competence, and proven performance have consistently guided these decisions. Furthermore, the financial position of several state-owned enterprises, including SriLankan Airlines, remains a significant concern. Without sustainable reforms, these institutions will continue to place a heavy burden on public finances.
Judged
Ultimately, governments are judged not by the number of arrests they make, but by whether they improve people’s lives, strengthen institutions, create jobs, reduce the cost of living, and restore confidence in the country’s future. If approval ratings genuinely approach 70%, that support will ultimately be tested not by opinion polls, but by economic outcomes, governance standards, and—eventually—at the ballot box. President Dissanayake could test this claim by holding provincial elections. But one thing is clear: the next President of Sri Lanka—whether incumbent or otherwise—will have to demonstrate real economic competence to secure even 50% of the vote, something the current President failed to achieve in 2024.
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