Eleven months into Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s presidency, critics are asking: where are the results the JVP promised? From economic relief to corruption crackdowns, the silence is deafening.
It’s been nearly eleven months since Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office, promising a new era. Yet the metaphorical “baby” the JVP said would take nine months to arrive is still nowhere in sight. And the people remain hungry not just for food, but for answers.
Where Are the Promised Reforms?
The public’s questions are growing sharper by the day.
Have the thieves been caught?
Has the tax burden been eased?
Was the IMF agreement renegotiated?
Has corruption been stopped and the cost of living reduced?
Has the government halted privatisation?
Back when these questions first emerged, the JVP dismissed the criticism by saying, “Just as it takes nine months to have a baby, these complex problems cannot be solved in just two months. Don’t worry—work is happening behind the scenes.”
But it’s August now. Anura has held power for almost eleven months. And by their own analogy, the “baby” should have been born. One viral Facebook post pointed out, “If it takes nine months to have a baby, then by now the baby should have been born.” The sentiment resonates nationwide: time has passed, but where is the change?
The critique is clear. Eleven months is not a short period. It’s long enough for any government to showcase tangible progress, especially one that promised radical transformation.
Historical Benchmarks: Progress in Year One
History shows us what leaders have done in their first year. Sri Lanka’s first Executive President, J.R. Jayewardene, assumed power in 1977 and triggered an economic revolution. He liberalised the economy, established the Greater Colombo Economic Commission and Free Trade Zones, and laid foundations for the private sector—all within months. While Lalith Athulathmudali worked to shape the Free Market, Gamini Dissanayake secured Mahaweli funds, and Premadasa was already constructing housing for rural villagers. That was year one.
When Premadasa took over, Sri Lanka was facing dual crises: the JVP in the South and the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in the North. Yet he stuck to his bold pledges: remove Indian troops and launch the Janasaviya poverty alleviation program. Many thought both promises were impossible.
Ronnie de Mel predicted Janasaviya would fail without World Bank backing. No one believed India would leave. But amid the JVP’s insurgency, Premadasa rolled out Janasaviya, got the LTTE to the negotiating table, and applied relentless pressure on India. By March 1990, just 15 months into his presidency, Indian troops withdrew. An unthinkable goal, achieved.
Chandrika, Mahinda, and Maithri-Ranil: Results in Months
In 1994, Chandrika Kumaratunga came to power pledging to reduce bread prices and bring peace. She followed through, albeit temporarily. In her first year, she also launched peace talks, began efforts to abolish the executive presidency, and appointed commissions to investigate high-profile assassinations and corruption. The promised changes may not have lasted, but the work clearly began early.
Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005 with a singular vision: defeat the LTTE. Within months, he launched military operations at Mavil Aru, reinstated the fertiliser subsidy, stopped privatisation efforts, and even re-nationalised SriLankan Airlines. All within his first year.
Then came the 2015 Maithri-Ranil administration, which introduced the 19th Amendment to curb executive powers—despite not having a majority. They also increased public sector salaries by Rs. 10,000, cut oil and gas prices, and imposed taxes on the wealthy. Milk powder and essentials dropped in price. They didn’t catch all the thieves, but key promises were implemented within months.
Even Gotabaya Delivered, Despite the Pandemic
In 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power under very different circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. Still, he rolled back tax hikes, scrapped the Eastern Terminal deal with India, and upheld his anti-privatisation stance. He axed the MCC compact, keeping his campaign pledge, even as US officials lobbied hard for it. His actions had consequences, but he delivered what he promised.
So What About Anura’s Government?
Nearly a year later, critics argue that the government continues to hide behind the excuse of “needing time.” But history proves that impactful action can and has been taken in far less time. From J.R. to Premadasa, Chandrika to Mahinda, Maithri-Ranil to Gotabaya each delivered concrete changes within their first twelve months.
The people of Sri Lanka were promised transformation. Instead, they are met with rhetoric. Eleven months later, the metaphorical “baby” has yet to arrive. And the hunger literal and political deepens.
