• Concerns range from addressing unemployment, public sector inefficiency/waste, the CoL & tourism infrastructure, to crisis recovery, edu. modernisation & agri. support   

In the Presidential Election held on 21 September, Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People's Power (NPP) emerged victorious and was officially sworn in as the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (23). 

As the country embarks on a new five-year term under his leadership, citizens have high hopes and expectations for change. The Daily Morning reached out to individuals from various sectors to gather their insights on what they anticipate from the new President, uncovering a range of aspirations and concerns.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, a resident of Anuradhapura, who is a beautician by profession, Nuwanthika Lakshani noted that in previous Elections, President Dissanayake had limited support, with only a small group of loyal voters backing him. However, she said that this time, he has gained more support as many people who were previously aligned with other parties have now shifted their support to him. 

“People like me and many others have joined him with faith, believing that he will put an end to the economic hardships and corruption in the country. He has established that he will not seek the support of those who are accused of having engaged in corruption and various other misconduct by not welcoming politicians who were backing other political parties during his Presidential campaign. I wish that this practice will continue, so that other political movements will also tend to reject corrupt politicians. I also believe that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their social status, and that every individual should have the opportunity to contribute to the nation in some way. It's not only politicians who can contribute to the country's development. The people should also bear a portion of the responsibility for that course. I see Dissanayake as a leader who can turn this vision into reality. The public hopes that he will treat both his supporters and those who didn’t vote for him as equally important,” she said. 

Lakshani added that the President should learn from the mistakes of his predecessors and ensure that deserving individuals are given their rightful positions. She emphasised the need to create opportunities and provide suitable jobs for the educated and skilled youth who have been forced into unemployment due to what she claimed was the lack of effective youth development programmes.

A resident of Medawachchiya who is working in a bank, Kelum Sirisena, said that there is a need for improvements in essential sectors such as food, the water supply, electricity, and healthcare. He added that these areas should receive special attention to enhance their quality and ensure that they meet the needs of the people. One of his other concerns is the inefficiency and complexities found within public services. He stressed that these inefficiencies should be eliminated, making public services easier to access and more effective. 

“It is also important to support professionals such as farmers, carpenters, mechanics, and other skilled workers. These groups should be provided with the necessary support and a reasonable price for their products.” He further said that the prices of essential items, electricity tariffs, and Internet fees should be revised to align with the income of the people. Additionally, Sirisena called for an end to the unnecessary expenditures within the public sector. He insisted that public funds should be managed responsibly, cutting down on wasteful spending to ensure that resources are used effectively for the benefit of all citizens. Finally, he emphasised that policies should not be influenced by personal loyalties, power, or wealth, adding that decisions that affect the public should be made with transparency, and in the best interest of the country.

A Sri Lankan currently living in the United States, Kolitha Lewkebandara shared his thoughts on the state of the country, recollecting missed opportunities for growth and development. “It’s not that past leaders haven’t done anything good for the country, but we still find ourselves stuck in the same place as we were many years ago. There hasn’t been any significant change or progress that truly propels us forward.” 

He said that while Sri Lanka has achieved some level of development compared to other South Asian countries, it is far from reaching its full potential. “Yes, we’ve made some progress, but we can and should achieve much more. I hope that under President Dissanayake’s leadership, the country will move in the right direction. The system change that people have been calling for needs to start somewhere, and this moment presents an excellent opportunity to begin.” 

His suggestions for improvement are straightforward but impactful. “The country should be clean first. There’s so much untapped potential in the tourism sector, yet, it remains underdeveloped. I believe that Sri Lanka can achieve so much more through tourism, but, there are not enough programmes in place to support it. Even basic facilities, such as sanitary amenities for tourists, are lacking.” He pointed out that with proper planning and investment in tourism infrastructure, Sri Lanka could elevate its standing on the global stage. 

“If we had a comprehensive plan to develop the tourism sector, from maintaining cleanliness to providing essential services, we would attract more visitors and unlock a wealth of economic opportunities. Our natural beauty, rich history, and cultural heritage are assets that can drive our progress, but only if we invest in them wisely,” he said.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, one of the graduates who are seeking public sector jobs, Sumith Rathnayake said that President Dissanayake is a leader who has shown sensitivity towards the issue of unemployed graduates. In his manifesto, Dissanayake promised to create over 30,000 job opportunities for graduates in various fields, including teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM areas, as well as in sectors such as inland revenue, customs, the foreign service, and tourism. “We are hopeful that he will fulfil these promises in a timely manner. We have had several discussions with Dissanayake who was an Opposition Parliamentarian at the time in the past regarding these issues,” he said, and expressed confidence that once recruited into the public service, they will be committed to delivering efficient and effective services to the public.

A resident of Padukka, Susantha Rathnaweera expressed his views, stating: “Although I didn’t vote for Dissanayake in the Presidential Election, I am open to supporting him in the future if he prioritises the needs of the people and helps the country recover from the ongoing crisis. Many people tend to be blindly loyal to their political parties and leaders, but I believe that we don’t have to be bound by such loyalties. I respect and stand behind any leader who takes meaningful steps to develop the country, fight against corruption, and work towards fulfilling the hopes of the people.” 

He went on to emphasise the importance of evaluating leaders based on their actions rather than blind loyalty. “As responsible citizens, we should not simply praise everything that our chosen leader does and neither should we criticise the actions of other leaders just because we support a different party. Our focus should be on the positive changes that they bring to the country.” He also noted that if Dissanayake demonstrates the qualities the people expect in a true leader, he would have no hesitation in voting for him in another Presidential Election.

Another graduate, Samitha Lakmal said that there are often allegations that they (graduates) lack the necessary skills and qualifications that align with the demands of the modern job market. However, she said that this issue is not entirely the fault of the students – it is something that the Government should take responsibility for and address. 

“Students get selected for university based on their performance, and they study the courses available to them. If what they are learning does not match the skills that the employers are seeking, then, the Government needs to make adjustments to the education system. Blaming students for not having the right skills is unfair, as they are simply studying what is offered to them.” He said that President Dissanayake and his Government should take action to align university education with the current job market requirements. 

“By revising and modernising university programmes, we can ensure that graduates are better equipped to meet industry demands, ultimately reducing unemployment among the educated youth”. He further said that the Government led by President Dissanayake should work to make the people's lives better, instead of using power to suppress the people. “I would also prefer if the Government stops offering subsidies and instead implements proper programmes to establish financial stability at all levels.”

A farmer from the Embilipitiya area, Nimal Priyantha voiced his concerns about the challenges faced by the farming community, which he wanted the President elect to pay attention to. “The whole country witnessed the harmful effects of the 2019 ban on chemical fertilisers. We don’t need to explain the damage it caused to the country’s economy – it was clear to everyone.” 

With these past issues in mind, he said that he hoped that the new President will prioritise the welfare of farmers and make decisions that support the agricultural sector. “There should be sufficient support for us, but it's not just about subsidies. It’s also about the services that we receive from government officers. There are regions where agricultural officers don’t even visit a single paddy field during the entire cultivation season. How can anything improve when those responsible for supporting us aren’t doing their jobs?,” he asked.

He also raised concerns about the high costs associated with farming, including expensive equipment and seeds. “Farming tools and seeds are priced so high that they’re almost out of reach. If the prices of these essentials could be reduced, it would encourage not just full-time farmers but also those who aren’t primarily involved in agriculture, to start cultivating. Even small efforts can make a big difference,” he went on to say.