President Anurakumara Dissanayake has said that his government has succeeded in transforming politics into public service in the last two years. His Facebook post in this regard has now attracted attention in political circles.
“We have succeeded in turning politics, which had turned into business, into public service in the last two years,” the president said in his post. This record highlights his government’s aim to create a people-centred administration to replace a political culture that uses power to prioritize individual interests.
During the 2024 presidential election, the National People’s Power had made various promises to the public. During that period, the economic crisis in the country, social problems and dissatisfaction among the people towards the previous rulers had a major impact on the outcome of the election.
After that, the National People’s Power Government took over. After coming to power, the opposition parties have been continuously raising questions about the extent to which the promises made during the election are being implemented.
However, it is reported that measures against corruption, fraud and crime have been intensified on the part of the government. There has been an increase in recent times in which former politicians, former officials associated with government institutions and some of their associates have been arrested and put to trial.
Actions against corruption and crime
Curbing corruption and financial malfeasance was prominent among the Anura government’s key campaign promises. It also included issues such as justice related to the Easter Sunday bombings, investigations into political assassinations, and control of drug trade and underworld activities.
The news indicates that the government is taking steps in these matters. Cases against some of those arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attack have been completed and sentences have been announced. At the same time, it has been reported that some of the leaders of the underworld who are said to have taken refuge abroad have been brought to Sri Lanka and arrested.
Actions against drug trade are also ongoing in many parts of the country. Several people have been arrested as part of these operations, the report said.
Similarly, legal action has also reportedly been taken against several former politicians, former heads of government agencies and family members of politicians accused of bribery and corruption.
The involvement of some prominent political figures in these activities is seen as politically significant. These actions of the government have gained attention as there is a public expectation that the law should be applied uniformly to those in power in the past.
However, it should also be noted that the allegations against the arrested have to be proven through court proceedings. Arrest or investigation cannot mean conviction.
Economic Crisis and Debate on the Functioning of Government
While the government is reported to be cracking down on corruption and crime, there are mixed opinions about the government’s performance in relation to the economic situation.
The news indicates that the Sri Lankan economy has also been impacted by external factors including the Titwa disaster and the war situation in the Middle East. It is also noted that amid such circumstances, the government continues to focus on implementing certain aspects of its election promises.
At the same time, opposition parties continue to criticize the government’s activities. In particular, political debate continues over how changes in economic growth, cost of living, employment and the daily lives of citizens should be assessed. Recent criticism has also suggested that the government should focus on direct changes in people’s living standards rather than presenting economic indicators alone.
Briefly looking at the main themes that emerge again and again, two main angles can be seen in evaluating the performance of the Anura government. The first is legal action against corruption and crime. The second is the actual improvement in the economic condition of the people accompanying those measures.
Supporters of the government see the crackdown on corruption and malfeasance as a sign of political change. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that arrests alone are not enough and that equal importance should be given to the cost of living, income and employment issues people face.
Thus the President’s view that “we have made politics a service to the people” may become an important political yardstick for judging the government’s performance in the future. How anti-corruption measures are implemented and how well their results are reflected in public life will also be important.
Anurakumara Dissanayake’s Facebook post has brought the alleged changes his government has made in the past two years back to the center of political debate. As anti-corruption and anti-crime measures, economic challenges and public expectations are interrelated issues, the focus of the public and political parties will continue to be on the government’s next steps.