With the Presidential Election approaching on Saturday (21) to elect the ninth executive president of Sri Lanka, The Sunday Morning spoke with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions to understand their key expectations from the upcoming president in terms of policies, irrespective of who is elected. 

These voices reflect the hopes and concerns of people who have participated in multiple elections and experienced various regimes. It is crucial to hear from the older generation, who have lived through different administrations, about the changes they seek.

Lester Perera, 60, Colombo

Firstly, when it comes to wildlife conservation in this country, we have been facing numerous issues for years. We have both a Forest Department and a Wildlife Department. Do we really need two separate departments for such closely related matters? I don’t think so. We need a single, unified department.

From a tourism perspective, the basic requirement of issuing tickets to national parks can require waiting in line for hours. The guides, whose knowledge is crucial for foreign visitors, often have a limited understanding of wildlife. They know little beyond the larger mammals and are often focused only on finding leopards, neglecting other animals that visitors might want to see. Despite raising this issue for years, nothing has changed.

As an artist, the situation is disheartening. I’ve held over a dozen solo exhibitions in Sri Lanka and joint exhibitions internationally, but we have very few private galleries in Sri Lanka. The Lionel Wendt is practically the only exhibition venue and we haven’t had a national art gallery for over a decade for foreigners to visit. There’s no national collection of our greatest artists’ works; most are in private hands – with wealthy individuals, politicians, or their affiliates. 

From a wildlife conservation perspective, there is still so much to be done. Much research has been conducted, and some species have been identified as ‘spot endemics’ and found only in specific locations. Yet many species are disappearing due to a lack of conservation efforts. Particularly in terms of insect conservation, which is a vast field, very little research is being done.

No substantial changes have been made in this regard, not even in the national parks over the past decades. Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) fail to do their job properly; they create project proposals, secure funding, and conduct brief six-month studies. We need long-term research, but only few such studies exist.

Even out at sea, there are problems. Boat operators conducting whale- and dolphin-watching tours often break regulations due to a lack of monitoring by the authorities. They charge high fees for tours but fail to provide even basic services like trained guides on their boats. There is no system in place to ensure compliance with guidelines. 

At the same time, there is a lack of personnel in the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Much can be done to mitigate issues like the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC), but little is done beyond superficial efforts.

Both the art and wildlife conservation sectors desperately need reform. We need real change.

Sujeewa Prasanna, 48, Sapugaskanda

As a Sri Lankan citizen, I have several key expectations regardless of who wins the upcoming Presidential Election. 

Our country is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural society, consisting of Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers, Malays, and others. We should work towards establishing a single, unified legal framework that applies equally to all citizens, including the president, members of Parliament, and ordinary people. Historically, our country has seen frequent policy changes with each new president. 

We need a consistent national policy that remains stable regardless of political shifts. I hope that the ninth executive president will implement enduring national policies in education, socio-cultural matters, and the economy. These policies should address national needs and remain unchanged over time. 

The president should fully understand and leverage our human and physical resources for national development. For example, we have abundant mineral resources; there should be policies to utilise these for the country’s benefit. Similarly, educational policies should be stable and aligned with long-term goals, unaffected by changes in leadership. 

In addition, State services should be streamlined to improve efficiency. For example, obtaining birth, marriage, or death certificates, as well as driving licences and passports should be simplified through a digital system to reduce time and inconvenience. We should move towards e-governance to enhance service delivery. 

Economically, the flow of benefits to the people is insufficient, leading to widespread economic inequality. We need a balanced approach to imports and exports and a greater focus on manufacturing to increase foreign earnings. 

A system should be in place to encourage manufacturing at all levels of society, ensuring economic benefits reach even rural areas. The political culture also needs reform to prevent the practice of changing parties and policies after elections. This issue should be addressed through new laws and regulations by the incoming president.

Saman Fernando, Colombo 

The future president of Sri Lanka should have policies pertaining to local and foreign backgrounds, as Sri Lanka should not be an isolated nation in the world. Therefore, the decision-making process should be mingled with the timely necessities of citizens of different communities within the country. 

The future president should understand traits, new developments, and needs of zonal politics, and address the necessities of the broader society beyond urban environments. As for the foreign policy of future Sri Lanka, it should help Sri Lanka solve its burning problems, such as finding active solutions for economic growth, debt restructuring, and maintaining positive relationships with nations around the island. 

In an era where the prices of essential items have skyrocketed, the next president should create strong economic policies and lay foundations to regain the trust of dejected and frustrated Sri Lankans, including entrepreneurs who have the potential to bring revenues to Sri Lankan markets. 

Traditional livelihoods such as farming should be supported by creating relevant policy frameworks, providing fertiliser for a reasonable price, and helping them address the challenges within their professions. 

Predominantly, establishing confidence among the masses and professionals should be one of the key objectives when creating leadership along with strong policies. Moreover, these policy implementations should reach the grassroot levels of society and assist in growth while putting an end to corruption and controlling wastage.

Menaka Weragoda, 54, Badulla

I would like to see an education system where children and parents can plan a future which aligns with the children’s goals. This will help them start studying relevant subjects and courses from a young age. 

For example, my daughter studied logic for her GCE Advanced Levels, which has no connection to public or human resources, which is where her passion lies. If the system were to change so that children’s soft skills are given prominence over maths and science, there would be more jobs.

Damith Jayawardena, 51, Kadawatha

Firstly, we need to develop our economy. Given the current economic failure, we must increase the country’s manufacturing capacity. By manufacturing and exporting goods or services, we can earn foreign currency, which is crucial for economic stability. 

Unfortunately, recent years have seen little manufacturing growth, and even those companies that once contributed significantly to the economy have collapsed due to the country's economic decline. 

When we import consumer goods, we spend valuable foreign currency. We should focus on producing these goods locally. For instance, even basic items like ropes are imported from China, even though they could easily be made here. The agricultural sector also needs development. 

Additionally, the laws in Sri Lanka should be applied equally to everyone, as the general public feels there is no justice due to the lack of equality in the legal system. There should be reforms in the education system as well, which is outdated and in need of modernisation. 

Moreover, when politicians appoint councillors from their party, they must first ensure that these individuals are not involved in corruption or criminal activities. People with such records should not have the right to contest elections. This would prevent unqualified or corrupt individuals from entering politics, allowing voters to make informed choices. 

For example, if a corrupt candidate named ‘X’ is nominated by a political party, voters have no choice but to vote for him because that party has nominated that particular individual. 

In addition, everything should be transparent. If the Government takes a loan from another country, it should publicly disclose the details, including the loan amount and relevant terms.

Ajith Ranasinghe, 53, Gampaha

At the managerial level, many people expect to receive their promotions and hope for a relaxation in car import restrictions. I work in the spare parts industry, so it’s crucial for us to import more vehicles to keep our business running. I also expect market stability. 

When it comes to International Monetary Fund (IMF) deals and credit lines, these need to remain stable. If we keep renegotiating and revising policies after lengthy discussions, it will disrupt the credit lines and impact market stability, which most corporations do not favour. While the candidate could review these agreements in the future, we believe the current IMF programme should continue for now. 

Another major concern is the fluctuating tax policies. Current taxes, such as the Value-Added Tax (VAT), are not favourable for businesses and directly affect salaries. The direct taxes employees pay on their earnings are a significant issue for us. 

Additionally, we expect a reduction in the prices of essential goods, including the taxes on them. Overall, we expect minimal fluctuation in the dollar rate and a stable economic environment. Policies related to the economy should be consistent and on a stable track. 

We also support free healthcare and education, but as taxpayers, we believe there should be a system where those who can afford to contribute should do so. Those who can pay should have the option to access quality healthcare and education, while the government supports those who cannot. There must also be credibility and transparency in how the government uses public funds. We are against corruption and it must be minimised.

J.B. Weerasinghe, 57, Badulla

I expect a stable economy that will not lead to food shortages, fuel lines, or power cuts in the future. In my opinion, the debt restructuring will eventually put us in more debt.

J.P.M.A. Ekanayake, 58, Kalutara

I wish for a leader who has good morals and good virtues who will lead future generations on the correct path. He/she should be strong-willed and independent with good principles and clear political aims to suit the country’s economy. 

His plans must not be limited to words. He must be a man of principles. He should follow a religion of his choice but remain unbiased when ruling the country. We should refrain from overly depending on loans and temporary solutions for the economy of our country.

Shaivy Pathirage, 46, Kadawatha

Being a beautician, I have seen a significant increase in cosmetics prices due to the halt in imports from countries like China and Germany, which has driven up the cost of the remaining products. We hope to be able to purchase these products at a more reasonable price. 

Additionally, it would benefit people like us who are trying to grow our businesses to have access to loans or financial support schemes. The law should be fair, and there should be no corruption.

Udeni Wijethunga, 53, Gampaha

What I expect most is transparency. In recent years, many bills were passed with very little public awareness or discussion. If a leader is elected to serve the people, they must be transparent in their actions and we should be kept informed. 

Due to this lack of transparency, the relationship between the Government and the public has deteriorated over the years. Transparency is crucial when laws are being drafted and when they are implemented.

Gamini Samarasinghe, 62, Kalutara

What I expect from the upcoming president is to strengthen local industries and the agricultural sector, and increase foreign remittances so that people can lead less stressful lives.

Dhammika Siriwardane, 46, Anuradhapura

I hope for an administration that provides employment opportunities for youth and graduates, offers higher education funded by the State, reduces the prices of goods, and takes strong measures to curb corruption.