The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign, the first major initiative of the newly-elected National People’s Power (NPP) Government, has garnered considerable attention across the country. However, this attention is mixed, as the campaign and the Government face both praise and criticism. While the intentions behind the initiative may be noble, its timing and execution raise questions about whether it truly addresses the pressing needs of Sri Lanka. It is also indicative of the new Government’s lack of governance experience.

The main stated goal of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign is to improve the country's cleanliness and create a change in culture amongst the public. The cleanliness or beautification of urban and suburban areas, is to be encouraged to create a cleaner and more beautiful Sri Lanka. On the surface, the idea of a cleaner nation is universally agreeable, and many would support such an initiative. However, the Government's focus on beautification seems out of touch with the immediate concerns of the public. Sri Lankans are currently dealing with a high cost of living, inflation, and economic instability. These issues demand urgent attention, and many feel the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign is a diversion from addressing more pressing matters. It also shows that the new NPP Government has misread public sentiments and have rolled out a project, which should have come much later during their tenure in power. Further, the Government failed to first carry out a robust public awareness campaign before rolling out the initiative, costing them dearly due to public officials, Police officers and the public being confused and acting rashly based on the circulars.

The NPP Government came to power with a promise of reform and change. It was expected to challenge the status quo and implement policies that would address the systemic problems facing the country. Yet, the focus on an environmental and social cleanliness campaign that many see as superficial and poorly-timed risks betraying those expectations. By prioritising cleanliness, road safety and behaviour over more critical issues like inflation, unemployment, and corruption, the Government appears to be following a path similar to that of previous administrations. The former Governments, led by former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe, also had a two-thirds majority in Parliament and implemented beautification projects, such as murals and urban beautification efforts. While these initiatives may have been well-intentioned, they ultimately failed to address the deeper economic and social issues plaguing the country. The public’s lives did not improve as a result, and many are now seeing the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign in the same light.

Sri Lanka’s political culture has long been plagued by taking ad hoc measures that focus on surface-level changes rather than tackling the root causes of the nation’s struggles. The NPP Government must learn from these past mistakes as the public is tired of political theatrics that fail to bring about real change.

The people of Sri Lanka are grappling with many challenges that demand immediate attention. The cost of living has risen sharply, making it harder for families to afford basic necessities like food and healthcare. Many are also struggling to access quality education and healthcare, as both sectors remain underfunded and inefficient.

In addition, market monopolies and corruption continue to hamper economic growth, and the rule of law remained weak until recently. These are the issues that the NPP Government must prioritise if it hopes to meet the expectations of the people who elected it. The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign, while undoubtedly a good initiative, is not the priority at this moment in time. The Government must recognise that it was elected to address the country’s most urgent challenges, not to focus on ‘cosmetic’ changes. The people did not vote for the NPP to initiate projects that beautify cities. They voted for a Government that would improve their quality of life.

Moreover, the Government must learn from the failures of previous administrations, which focused on superficial projects without addressing the country’s deeper issues. If the NPP continues down the same path, it will only perpetuate the cycle of ineffective governance that has plagued Sri Lanka for decades. The public wants more than just promises and ‘cosmetic’ changes. They want tangible improvements in healthcare, education, the economy, and the rule of law, among other pressing concerns. Therefore, before initiating grand long-term strategies aimed at a cultural shift, which will take a long time to take root, the Government should focus on the more pressing realities which the public want fixed urgently.