• Activists, u’grads, the diaspora and citizens note the pros and cons of the ‘historic’ mandate
• Positives range from the eschewing of racism and religionism to a new level of unity and reconciliation
• Negatives range from the public not having deep knowledge of the new MPs and the resultant uncertainty about how regional issues would be addressed 

The National People’s Power (NPP) achieved a historic victory in the Parliamentary General Election held on 14 November, marking a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s political landscape. Winning a whopping 159 out of 225 Parliamentary seats, the NPP gained strong support from voters across the country – from the North to the South – who were eager for a ‘system change’ and fresh leadership. This victory came after a years-long campaign that focused on anti-corruption, social justice, and economic reforms to address long-standing issues in Sri Lanka. Many citizens were drawn to the NPP’s promises to address unemployment, improve public services, and eliminate inequalities.

In the Election, the NPP secured a total of 6,863,186 votes, the highest ever obtained by a political party in a Parliamentary Election, surpassing the 6,853,690 votes won by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in 2020. This also accounted for a record-breaking 61.56% of the total vote, overtaking the previous 60.33% recorded by the United People’s Freedom Alliance in 2010. The NPP claimed 159 seats in total, including 141 district-level seats and 18 National List seats.

The NPP’s success is seen as a response to public dissatisfaction with the established political parties, who have faced criticism for their handling of the economy, governance, and corruption. They were able to win the hearts of a wide range of voters, including young people, professionals, and those in rural areas, many of whom had felt neglected by previous governments. The NPP has pledged to introduce reforms that will promote transparency in Government operations, improve healthcare and education, and ensure fair economic opportunities for all citizens. As the new ruling Party, they are expected to face the challenge of implementing these changes while managing the country’s economic challenges.

The citizens, including NPP supporters, have high hopes that the newly-elected Government will fulfil its promises and lead the nation toward a more just and prosperous future. In other words, the NPP’s victory not only brings new faces to the Parliament but also signals a demand for more responsible governance, with the citizens hoping that the Government will bring real and positive changes to their lives.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, political activist Srinath Dissanayake from Kandy, noted that in this year's Parliamentary Election, the NPP achieved a victory beyond their (NPP's) expectations. Recalling repeated statements made by President and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and other NPP members that forming a strong Government with a simple Parliamentary majority would be sufficient, he said that the people across the country — from the North to the South — delivered a historic win for the NPP. "In my opinion, there are two sides, positive and negative. The positive side; for the first time, people voted as Sri Lankans, without ethnic or religious divisions. Now, the NPP can deliver on all their promises. They have the power to amend the Constitution as they see fit, and they can implement decisions without barriers. This is a rare, golden opportunity for the country, if handled correctly. But, there is also a negative side; people who expect everything to change are at risk of being disappointed. With this strong mandate, the Government must not ignore its responsibilities. Such a disappointment could lead the country’s politics into a crisis. Society could reach a point where no one trusts any politician or political party." Warning that such a situation could severely damage the country’s political, social, and economic stability, he said that he hoped that the NPP would fulfil their promises and prevent even the slightest chance of disappointment. He also said that if the mandate given by the people is properly used to provide solutions to the people's problems, the NPP would also be able to have great self-satisfaction as a group that fulfilled the hopes of a nation that has not seen clear improvement for decades.

Commenting on the significant Parliamentary power achieved by the NPP, an undergraduate of the University of Peradeniya, Sudeepa Lakshan said that everyone should remember that this power was not taken through deception or force; it was given freely and willingly by the people. He said that although opinions differ on whether granting such power to a single political force is positive or negative, it is a process that reflects the people’s will, and that any opposition to this choice would therefore be unfair. "The victory in both the North and the South reflects a new level of unity and reconciliation. It is an achievement that almost every political force has attempted in various ways over the past decades but could never fully realise. I see this as a positive development and a remarkable demonstration of the people’s wisdom. The Government should work diligently to fulfil the promises it made to the people to the best of its ability now.” He further said that he hoped that the NPP would act as a true 'people's power' in the future as a Government that truly listens to the people's opinion, is free from corruption and fraud, and respects democracy and human rights. Noting that there is an undeniable responsibility before the newly-elected Parliament to fulfil the promise that they made to enforce the law against the politicians and all other responsible persons involved in various acts of corruption, fraud and irregularities of the previous governments, he said that the Government was expected to do it at the earliest possible.

A Sri Lankan sales and marketing professional now domiciled in New Zealand, Thilina Thushan Dissanayake speaking to The Daily Morning, said that the current Parliament, with the highest public approval in history, has more than enough potential to change the country’s history and take it to a new level. He noted that signs of this new political culture were evident not just in the election, but in every phase, including the campaign programmes leading up to it. "The NPP has received the largest mandate ever in the Parliament, which is the institution responsible for making laws and other strategies for the country. From one perspective, this might seem dangerous. However, this power is rooted in the people’s sovereignty. The Government will have no room to play with the people’s expectations. If they do, the fate of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government will also be theirs." 

He added: "In the country’s order, there are three branches; the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. Many leaders made decisions as if the Judiciary didn’t exist. I think that the proper order should be the Judiciary, the Legislature, and then the Executive." He also said that ensuring media freedom within reasonable limits, addressing tax evasion and the misuse of public resources, updating the foreign policy to attract foreign investors, providing sufficient funds for education, and strengthening defence and intelligence are urgently needed. After fulfilling the people's expectations during the five year period during which they would be in power, he said that the NPP-led Government would then be required to hold the elections on time.

A resident of Embilipitiya, S.G. Premarathne said that although several contesters representing the Ratnapura District were elected to the Parliament this time, many of them, like the Parliamentarians who previously represented the area, are known among the local residents. He said that in the past, people were able to go directly to an MP to inform them about local issues, but now, they are facing uncertainty about what will happen in the future. "Many of the MPs who represented our area before were people we knew personally. But this time, the situation is quite different. Most of the newly elected MPs, especially those representing the ruling party, are unfamiliar to us. Many of them haven’t even held a meeting in villages. While some say that it’s good that newcomers have the opportunity to replace MPs who have been in the Parliament for decades, on the other hand, we are left wondering how we can bring our issues to their attention." He expressed hope that the newly elected MPs would visit the villages and understand the problems faced by the people in the future. He further added that, whether long-serving MPs or newly-elected ones, the people from all regions want to be represented by MPs who can address the specific issues in their areas and make decisions that will improve the lives of people across the country.

Speaking to the media after their victory, NPP member and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (the main constituent Party of the NPP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that before them now is the responsibility to keep the trust that the people have placed in the NPP. "We never expected a two-thirds majority in the Parliament, but the people have given it to us. We now have a great responsibility to use this power carefully. We will ensure that this large amount of power is not misused and will be committed to using it for the benefit of the people and to protect their democratic rights." He noted that many people believe that too much power can lead to corruption, explaining that this belief stems from past governments, especially since 1977, that used their power to oppress the people and misuse public resources for personal gain. He assured that the NPP would not misuse its power to suppress the people; instead, it will be used to develop the country, uphold democracy, create a society free from fraud and corruption, and fulfil the hopes of the people.