By W. Vishnu Gupta –

W. Vishnu Gupta

Despite holding a two-thirds majority, the governing party continues to behave like the official opposition in parliament. While senior members of the JVP have remained relatively quiet, taking a backseat, the party’s novice politicians frequently make ill-considered remarks, much to the amusement of the real opposition. Their reliance on AKD’s rhetoric raises the question: how long will they continue to hide behind his eloquence? It is noteworthy, the Chief Monk of Mihintale admonished the most outspoken Anuradhapura politician, urging him not to isolate the President when addressing challenges related to the Poson festival in Mihintale. This was likely a reminder of the government’s earlier misstep when attempting to garner Buddhist support through the organization of Lord Buddha’s tooth relic exposition in Kandy—an effort that ultimately backfired.

According to a Daily Mirror article published on June 4, 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that “economic progress must be accompanied by social development and a transformation in political culture.” However, this statement raises questions, as AKD and his government are direct products of the prevailing political culture in the country—specifically, the deteriorated political environment that has taken root in the corridors of power since the late 1960s.

Since then, political leaders have been consumed by power struggles, failing to understand the nation’s pulse, psyche, and aspirations. None have prioritized the welfare of children—past, present, or future. As a result, millions have sought opportunities abroad, while others remain disillusioned, having abandoned their dreams of leading stable family lives. The high prevalence of crimes related to illicit drugs, firearms, robbery, and illegal establishments can be directly or indirectly linked to this entrenched political culture.

The existence of AKD and his government is largely a result of a flawed constitution and a corrupt electoral system—both of which he has vigorously defended. Therefore, expecting meaningful changes in social development and political culture under a JVP-led administration may be unrealistic. Corruption tends to perpetuate itself, and historically, such entrenched political systems have rarely produced outcomes that genuinely benefit the people.

It is said that the proof is in the pudding. After more than eight months in office, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his government have yet to demonstrate that they possess a strategic economic development plan capable of benefiting the nation and its people. If such a plan existed, it should have been developed well before assuming power and launched immediately upon taking office. During the election campaign, AKD and his team led voters to believe they had a clear roadmap to rescue the country from its economic malaise. They also boasted of their skills, knowledge, and ability to turn around the failing economy. However, it now appears that they have retreated from their earlier confident stance and returned to square one—surveying the current economic, social, cultural, security, agricultural, education, and health conditions of the country. For instance, the Prime Minister and Education Minister—a relatively inexperienced politician—was reported on June 4, 2025, as stating, “It was decided to appoint six subcommittees to discuss and resolve the problems in the education sector, and accordingly, six subcommittees have been appointed.” This statement suggests that the government is only now recognizing the critical challenges within the education sector.

Having left the country 45 years ago, my family and I witnessed these very problems back then. Successive governments have continuously appointed committees and subcommittees, yet meaningful solutions have remained elusive. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that the current administration’s approach will be no different.

Nothing has changed in the political landscape, all politicians in the country are often consumed by power struggles and resort to deception to gain influence. Once in office, they become obligated to serve the interests of their key political supporters and major donors who financed their election campaigns first. Consequently, to protect their positions and newly gained power and the appealing taste of it, they take extensive precautions to shield themselves and their party-centric activities—often at the expense of public resources and the unsuspecting populace. One of the primary tactics employed to shield the ruling party from scrutiny is the appointment of trusted confidants to key state positions. This often involves placing political allies, friends and even family members in influential roles such as Attorney General, Central Bank Governor, Auditor General, Security Chiefs, Ministry Secretaries, Corporation Chairpersons, and Judges. In doing so, they frequently abuse their authority, disregarding established rules governing the appointment and promotion of civil servants.

A striking example is the recent appointment of a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as the Permanent Representative to the UN—bypassing all career diplomats currently serving Sri Lanka. This decision underscores the deeply entrenched corruption within the current regime. By manipulating the judiciary, they create an environment where judges are expected to either deliver rulings that favor government actions or remain passive when those actions violate the constitution. The implicit message to the judiciary is clear: either stay silent or issue judgments beneficial to the government, and in return, judges and their families will be rewarded. In contrast, the Chief Justice of India has set an inspiring example. According to a news report in The Hindu on June 6, 2025, Chief Justice BR Gavai stated that he and his Supreme Court colleagues have publicly pledged not to undermine the public’s trust in judicial integrity by accepting post-retirement positions from the government. This starkly highlights the ethical standards the current government must uphold to preserve public trust and judicial independence.

Furthermore, these appointments act as a shield, preventing scrutiny of questionable government actions while reinforcing political influence over state institutions. Unfortunately, temporarily elected politicians have repeatedly diluted and trivialized the powers of the state through political maneuvering, further eroding governance integrity. For example, AKD’s selection of an Auditor General disregarded the suitability of a senior auditor from within the Auditor General’s Department, while MR, RW, and GR similarly appointed Central Bank Chiefs without due consideration. While empowering local state officials fosters good governance, authoritarian control—disguised as a mandate from voters—leads only to stagnation.

Since 1970, successive governments, including the current administration, have systematically undermined the administrative and civil service to fulfill the political objectives of a select few. This weakening of institutional integrity ultimately paved the way for the national bankruptcy in 2022. The present government’s lack of a national strategic plan and ineffective governance only reinforce that AKD and his administration are no different from their predecessors. Instead of prioritizing the people, they remain beholden to party cadres and affluent business elites who helped bring them to power.

The unchecked powers granted to the President under the 1977 constitution have legitimized such practices, allowing the executive to make strategic appointments without meaningful oversight. As a result, governance remains entrenched in political maneuvering rather than genuine efforts to serve the nation’s interests. Judging by AKD’s conduct and widely publicized eloquent speeches, it appears he maintains control over every aspect of the temporarily elected government and state officials—making him no different from his predecessors. History has repeatedly shown that when power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual, the state inevitably faces peril.

Since coming to power, AKD and his government have not achieved any significant milestones. Instead, they appear to be benefiting from the trickle-down effects of the previous administration led by RW. AKD’s government seems to be struggling with understanding the key variables involved in state management. So far, their actions have largely been reactive rather than strategic, suggesting that it may take another four to five years for them to grasp the nation’s economic landscape. Additionally, developing a comprehensive economic development strategy could require another two to three years. Unfortunately for the people, AKD and his team do not have the luxury of such a timeline, as they must contend with national elections in 2029 and 2030.