The National People’s Power (NPP) government is walking a tightrope. With mounting economic pressure and growing public discontent, failure is not just a possibility it is a looming threat. If the economy worsens, the NPP risks losing the very credibility it won on the promise of change.
The urgency is clear. Just days after the JVP celebrated its 60th anniversary on May 14, police forces moved swiftly to dismantle a protest by Allied Health Science graduates outside the Ministry of Health in Colombo. The protesters, who were demanding a merit-based recruitment system as recommended by the University Grants Commission (UGC), were arrested for allegedly disrupting hospital operations. The government’s response raised serious concerns about its ability to manage dissent without reverting to the same repressive tactics used by its predecessors.
Public order is essential but so is a fair, just approach to governance. The NPP, having long criticised authoritarian methods, cannot now resort to the same. It must take lessons from Sri Lanka’s troubled past and approach social unrest with maturity and dialogue. Conflict, if left unaddressed, can easily spiral into chaos, undermining the very reforms the NPP aims to implement.
Dialogue is no longer optional it is urgent. Timely, inclusive discussions with dissenting groups are crucial to diffusing tensions before they erupt into violence. Only by upholding its campaign promises and fostering open communication can the NPP steer Sri Lanka away from volatility and towards long-term stability.
The government must also strengthen the rule of law not through crackdowns, but by establishing peaceful, just frameworks for conflict resolution. People must feel they can pursue justice through legitimate channels, not by taking matters into their own hands. Facilitating mediation, not intimidation, is the path forward.
History has shown how violations of rights, real or perceived, can ignite deep social unrest. Under colonial rule, the state security apparatus existed to protect elite interests, suppressing dissent with impunity. Echoes of these tactics in present-day Sri Lanka are deeply troubling. If the NPP hopes to chart a new course, it must decisively break with these colonial-era impulses.
The NPP cannot afford to remain passive while security forces act without oversight. It must ensure that democratic rights are protected, even amid dissent. Passivity now would betray the very principles the party was founded on.
But the problems run deeper. The NPP has delayed essential governance reforms and failed to act on key policy initiatives. Since assuming power, its legislative progress has been modest. Comparisons with the J.R. Jayawardena government of 1977 whose sweeping reforms transformed the country’s political and economic architecture highlight the NPP’s sluggish performance. Jayawardena passed critical legislation and enacted structural changes with remarkable speed. The NPP has yet to show such drive.
This is not to ignore the NPP’s commitment to combating corruption and mismanagement. But its inability to convincingly counter allegations or explain controversial appointments undermines public trust. Several of its decisions appear inconsistent with the ideals it championed during the campaign trail.
If the economy slides backward again, no excuse will save the NPP from being labeled a failure. That’s why it must urgently address unresolved tensions, especially the “national question” surrounding Sri Lanka’s ethnic divisions issues that successive governments have failed to resolve. These deep-rooted conflicts have long hampered development and fractured unity. Resolving them could lay the foundation for long-term peace and prosperity.
Social cohesion requires more than slogans. It demands real efforts to listen, heal, and build trust across ethnic and political lines. The government must foster inclusivity, resolve past grievances, and unite communities under a shared national vision.
It’s time Sri Lanka’s “peoples” collectively commit to a peaceful and just society. True democracy flourishes when laws are updated to reflect the realities of the people they serve. The NPP must recognize that sticking rigidly to outdated rules in a time of national transformation will only breed frustration.
Thus, the NPP finds itself at a turning point. To preserve order, uphold human rights, and lead the country toward holistic development, it must address conflict not avoid it. The tools are within reach: dialogue, transparency, reform, and humility.
“We are strong enough to accept mistakes,” declared the President during the JVP’s anniversary celebration. That strength must now translate into action. The dream of ‘A Beautiful Life and a Thriving Nation’ will remain hollow unless the NPP demonstrates the will to listen and the courage to lead.
If it fails, the consequences could be grave. The streets of Sri Lanka have seen unrest before and they could again. The time to act is now.
