{"id":243556,"date":"2025-09-24T01:06:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T19:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=243556"},"modified":"2025-10-08T16:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T11:28:45","slug":"the-difference-when-npp-was-in-opposition-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/the-difference-when-npp-was-in-opposition-now\/","title":{"rendered":"The Difference: When NPP Was In Opposition & Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Asoka S. Seneviratne<\/a>\u00a0\u2013<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Prof. Asoka.S. Seneviratne<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe did not inherit a clean slate\u2014we inherited the ashes of corruption, debt, and betrayal. Yet, I firmly believe that from these ashes, we will build a nation of dignity, justice, and prosperity. The sacrifices of today are not losses\u2014they are the foundation of tomorrow\u2019s freedom in all senses.<\/em>\u201d \u2013 President Anura Kumara Dissanayake<\/b><\/p>\n

The loudest voices of criticism today do not come from the majority of ordinary citizens or the country\u2019s intellectuals. They come instead from the remnants of the defeated political establishment, the same forces swept away by the people\u2019s mandate in the last two electoral tsunamis. Their accusations follow a familiar script: that the AKD-led government is (a) suppressing trade union actions, (b) failing to fulfill its election promises, and (c) dragging the country toward another crisis.<\/p>\n

What these voices deliberately conceal is the harsh reality that confronted the government only after taking office. The actual depth of Sri Lanka\u2019s austerity trap\u2014one of the sharpest and fastest in modern history\u2014was not fully visible before power was assumed. The new administration inherited not only a bankrupt economy but also decades of broken promises, mismanagement, and corruption that had hollowed out public institutions and deepened the people\u2019s suffering.<\/p>\n

It is within this hostile context that opposition remnants, unable to accept their rejection at the ballot box, now attempt to regroup under one banner with a single aim: to topple the government at any cost, regardless of the consequences for the nation.<\/p>\n

And yet, despite these significant obstacles, the National People\u2019s Power (NPP<\/a><\/span>) government\u2014guided by the vision and resolve of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake<\/a><\/span>\u2014marked its first year in office on September 21, 2025. This paper aims to cut through political propaganda noise, offer a clear and analytical review of the challenges faced, and evaluate how the government has navigated its first year in power, focusing on restoring dignity, stability, and hope to the people of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

The Government is Not Against the Right of Trade Unions<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Before assuming power, the NPP and its affiliated trade unions (TUs) were at the forefront of worker struggles. They boldly organized work-to-rule campaigns, strikes, and other collective actions to hold previous governments accountable. These actions were not reckless; they were a direct response to decades of betrayal by rulers who left the people suffocating under an economy poisoned by corruption, bribery, mismanagement, lawlessness, and political abuse. The <\/b>Aragalaya<\/i><\/b> of 2022 was the inevitable outcry of a nation pushed to the brink, and its scars need no repetition.<\/b><\/p>\n

Now in government, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the NPP have taken a principled stand: trade union rights remain fully protected as an inseparable part of democracy. Strikes, work-to-rule campaigns, and other lawful actions are not banned, because silencing workers is never an option in a genuinely free society.<\/p>\n

However, with rights come responsibilities. The welfare and well-being of the broader public must not be sacrificed in the name of protest. People who once endured under corrupt regimes must not be made to suffer again due to disruptions in essential services. Therefore, while workers\u2019 rights are protected, law and order will also be strictly maintained. This balance\u2014protecting democratic freedoms while preventing harm to the public or risking national security\u2014is the foundation of the AKD government\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n

Among many, CEB Reforms-A Non-Negotiable Reality Today<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

For a decade, among many, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been a financial black hole, draining public funds and accumulating debt. Between 2013 and 2023, it recorded a staggering Rs. 412.1 billion in losses, followed by another Rs. 17.3 billion in 2024. No country can sustain such a burden forever. The CEB is now a key part of the IMF\u2019s US$3 billion program, but let\u2019s be clear: even without the IMF, these reforms are essential. To provide electricity at fair and affordable prices, the Board must be transformed. Anything less is reckless and irresponsible.<\/p>\n

This is not about political ideology, union slogans, or past rhetoric. It is about economic survival<\/b>. A loss-making CEB drains resources that should be invested in schools, hospitals, and job creation. Every rupee wasted on inefficiency is a rupee stolen from the people. This is the naked truth of economics. <\/b> When in opposition, the NPP could afford to resist reforms. But in government, there is no such luxury. The economy has changed, the stakes are higher, and the people cannot wait. This is ground reality. <\/b><\/p>\n

So, the truth is simple that the people and the economy must come before politics<\/b>. Reforming the CEB is not optional\u2014it is a duty. When the economy is well organized and managed, its benefits will go to all and the country<\/b>. To delay further is to betray the very citizens who gave this government its mandate.<\/p>\n

What Must Be Done Now<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

To reverse the CEB and safeguard the nation\u2019s economic recovery, the government must act immediately on four fronts.<\/p>\n

* Reduce Waste and Stop Financial Leaks: <\/b>Enforce strict auditing and transparency to break the cycle of inflated contracts, corruption, and mismanagement that have affected the CEB for years. Every dollar saved from waste is a dollar available for development.<\/p>\n

* Restructure Debt and Modernize Operations: <\/b>The government needs to develop a clear plan to manage CEB\u2019s substantial debts while investing in new technology and improving grid management. A leaner, more efficient CEB will reduce costs and help keep electricity prices stable.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

* Diversify Energy Sources: <\/b>Heavy dependence on expensive imports has weakened the sector. Increasing renewable energy\u2014such as solar, wind, and hydro\u2014will reduce losses, enhance energy security, and lower electricity costs over time.<\/p>\n

* Protect Low-Income Consumers: <\/b>While reforms are necessary, everyday people should not be burdened. A fair subsidy system for vulnerable households must be combined with efficiency reforms, ensuring the poorest are protected while the system is improved.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s Harsh Reality: AKD Government Confronts Austerity Shock<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

When President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and the National People\u2019s Power (NPP) took power in late 2024, they made a bold promise: end corruption, rebuild the economy, and restore dignity to ordinary people. However, what the government didn’t fully expect was how severe the austerity trap it inherited would be.<\/b><\/p>\n

The recent World Bank report, The World Bank\u2019s Sri Lanka Public Finance Review, confirms what Sri Lankans face every day: the country has gone through one of the most severe and rapid austerity periods in modern history. Years of limited investment, falling wages, and neglect of vital infrastructure have left the new government with little room to act. This is the harsh reality that no one can deny<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The Austerity Shock, the Government did not see coming<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The above-mentioned World Bank\u2019s Sri Lanka Public Finance Review<\/i> compares 330 austerity experiences in 123 countries since 1980. Sri Lanka\u2019s fiscal cuts between 2021 and 2024 stand out among the most extreme anywhere. For the AKD government, the reality became clear only after taking office:<\/p>\n

* Nearly three-quarters of all fiscal cuts came from reducing public investment, which limited economic growth.<\/p>\n

* Roads, hospitals, and transportation networks were left in disrepair, severely compromising the nation’s welfare and well-being.<\/p>\n

* The industrial sector declined by 25% in 2022\u201323, eliminating jobs and slowing economic growth. Hope for a brighter future has been diminished.<\/p>\n

Essentially, the country has missed nearly a decade of progress. GDP is not projected to return to 2018 levels until 2026. The new government did not start with a clean slate. Instead, it inherited (i) a host of structural issues, (ii) crumbled sectors, and (iii) unfulfilled promises from the past<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Regarding the unfulfilled promises from the past, among many, I can give the following examples:<\/p>\n