Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne urges patience, telling the public that the National People’s Power government must be judged over its full five-year mandate, not rushed expectations set within a single year.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Namal Karunaratne has called on the public to manage expectations, stating that work planned for a five-year mandate cannot realistically be completed within a single year.
Addressing public criticism and rising demands, Karunaratne emphasized that the National People’s Power government was elected with a five-year mandate and should be assessed across that full period. He stressed that it is unreasonable to expect in one year what is meant to be achieved over five.
“No one should expect this. Don’t expect to do in the first year what can be done in another five years. It can’t be done,” he said.
He further explained that the same principle applies to each stage of governance, noting that expectations must align with timelines and institutional capacity.
“Do not expect in the second year what you have to do in four years. They do, and fulfill those promises.
The people have given us power for five years. It’s been a year yet. All those essential things will be done within five years.”
Karunaratne made these remarks while addressing a ceremony in Nikaveratiya to mark the commencement of reconstruction work for houses destroyed by Cyclone Ditwa. The event focused on post-disaster recovery, housing rehabilitation, and long-term development planning for affected communities.
He said the government remains committed to delivering on its promises, particularly in agriculture, rural development, housing reconstruction, and disaster recovery, but urged citizens to allow time for policies and projects to take full effect.
The Deputy Minister reiterated that sustainable development requires structured planning, phased implementation, and patience, assuring that progress will be visible as the government moves forward through its mandate.
