As Sri Lanka gears up for the crucial local government elections on May 6, 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his National People’s Power (NPP) face their third major electoral test in under a year. With over 17.3 million voters poised to elect representatives for 339 local bodies including municipal, urban, and pradeshiya councils, the stakes are immense. This election will not only determine grassroots control but will serve as a referendum on AKD’s first seven months in office.
In a dramatic political turnaround, the NPP rode the wave of the 2022 Aragalaya protests, toppling the Rajapaksa regime and propelling AKD to the presidency in September 2024. The movement transformed into a political juggernaut that won 159 out of 225 parliamentary seats just two months later, shaking the foundations of traditional party politics. Even more impressive was the NPP’s dent into Tamil nationalist strongholds in the north, winning half the seats in the Northern Province.
Now, all eyes are on whether AKD’s momentum can carry through the local elections. His government has introduced a 25% youth quota for candidates, a nod to the young activists who ignited the Aragalaya movement. May Day rallies at Colombo’s Galle Face Green symbolic ground for protest served as campaign fuel, reaffirming the NPP’s grassroots branding with slogans like “Power to the People, Build the Nation.”
But governance has not been easy. Balancing IMF-backed fiscal discipline with pledges to ease the cost of living has proven challenging. While VAT remains a vital revenue source, the government has cut electricity tariffs by 20% for households and 30% for industries, reduced fuel prices, and slashed service-export taxes. In a sweeping relief initiative, allowances for the elderly, disabled, and disaster victims were raised, while estate worker wages and minimum salaries for public and private workers saw significant hikes. These measures are designed to counterbalance inflation but the impact remains to be seen.
On the global stage, AKD’s administration scored points with the EU over trade reforms and plans to repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). EU representatives, during a May visit, welcomed Sri Lanka’s GSP+ review progress, raising hopes of further economic cooperation. Yet AKD remains clear: his real mission is to dismantle a corrupt political legacy that drove the country into economic ruin.
Still, doubts persist. Critics question whether the NPP, despite its anti-corruption rhetoric, has the administrative skill to govern effectively. With untested data, a nascent bureaucracy, and fragile public trust, fears of authoritarian backsliding or inefficiency loom. The government’s promises of equality and transparency are strong—but delivery remains a work in progress.
Meanwhile, external instability adds further strain. With tensions flaring between India and Pakistan, any regional conflict could devastate Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and spike prices of essential imports like energy and food. The threat of war clouds over South Asia could scare away investors just as Sri Lanka begins to rebuild.
Historically, May has been a volatile month in Sri Lanka. From the assassination of President Premadasa to the end of the LTTE war, it has marked defining moments. This May, it’s AKD and the NPP who face their reckoning. Will this be a continuation of a revolution or the start of its unraveling?
Only the voters can decide.
