Tracking delivery on manifesto promises

Establish school and community-based programs for early detection and prevention of psychosocial and mental health issues in children.

Why this status: The government’s 2025 programme records early-detection, referral-care and suicide-prevention activity for schoolchildren. This directly supports early detection and prevention, but the public record does not establish that school and community coverage is universal.

Implement broad reforms to the foster care system to ensure that every child in need of alternative care receives care and stability in family-based environments.

Why this status: Alternative-care reform is underway. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs now publishes a National Alternative Care Policy for Children, and the Minister reported work on family-based care, deinstitutionalisation, community protection and foster-care models. The public evidence does not demonstrate that every child needing alternative care has already received stable family-based care, so the promise is not yet fulfilled.

Establish a robust mechanism for early identification and intervention of at-risk children, including children with disabilities, street children and out-of-school children.

Why this status: A national mechanism is being built, though it is not yet demonstrably comprehensive. The 2025–2029 National Action Plan on Child Protection sets out child-protection case management, referral, staff training and follow-up through agencies including the NCPA, probation services, divisional and district secretariats, and police. It includes specific pathways for vulnerable children identified through child-labour investigations and for children left behind by migrant parents. The evidence does not establish a fully operational, nationwide mechanism covering every group named in the pledge, including all out-of-school and disabled children, so this remains underway.

Train field officers related to child affairs in Divisional Secretariats to provide direct services to families whose children are at risk.

Why this status: The official child-protection policy commits to training divisional-secretariat field officers on direct services for families whose children are at risk. No completion data is shown.

Implement a child-friendly transportation system to ensure safe and dignified transportation of children for legal purposes.

Why this status: The official child-protection policy commits to a child-friendly transport system for safe and dignified transport of children for legal purposes. Implementation outcomes are not shown.

Establish specialized high courts dedicated solely to handling cases involving children.

Why this status: The official child-protection policy commits to specialized high courts dedicated to cases involving children. No evidence shows that the dedicated courts are operational nationwide.

Review, amend, or repeal outdated laws such as the Children and Young Persons Ordinance, Adoption of Children Ordinance, Vagrants Ordinance, and Orphanages Ordinance.

Why this status: The official child-protection policy commits to reviewing, amending or repealing the named outdated child-protection laws. A formal policy direction exists, but completion is not shown.

Expand constitutional protections to ensure no discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

Why this status: The official gender-equality policy commits to expanding constitutional protections against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. No completed constitutional amendment is evidenced here.

Implement the Law Commission’s 2012 recommendations to ensure safe termination of pregnancy.

Why this status: The official gender-equality policy commits to implementing the Law Commission’s 2012 recommendations on safe termination of pregnancy. The policy is a formal direction, not proof of enacted reform.

Enact laws and policies to ensure at least 50% representation of women gradually, in political institutions.

Why this status: The official gender-equality policy repeats the commitment to enact laws and policies ensuring at least 50% representation of women gradually in political institutions. No evidence shows the target has been reached.

Implement a policy for two weeks of leave in the event of a spouse’s death.

Why this status: The national policy commits to two weeks of leave when a spouse dies.

Implement a policy for a maximum of one year of leave with 25% of the basic salary for those taking care of children under the age of 5 or sick parents over the age of 80.

Why this status: The national policy commits to up to one year of leave at 25% of basic salary for caring for children under five or sick parents over 80.

Establish a health/life insurance scheme covering all levels of workers in the private sector.

Why this status: The Gazette assigning ministerial functions includes creation of a health/life insurance scheme covering all levels of private-sector workers. A formal assignment exists, but nationwide operation is not demonstrated.

Formulate and implement a national labor policy.

Why this status: The national policy commits to formulating and implementing a labour policy.

Develop and implement a broad pension policy applicable to all workers in the country.

Why this status: The national policy commits to developing and implementing a broad pension policy applicable to all workers.

Establish Childcare Centers at the Gramaniladari level with public and private partnerships based on needs and requests.

Why this status: The national policy commits to childcare centres at Grama Niladhari level through public-private partnerships based on need and requests.

Provide financial assistance through field officers for obtaining nutritious food for families with urgent needs and malnourished children.

Why this status: The national policy commits to financial assistance through field officers for nutritious food for families with urgent needs and malnourished children.

Create a digital data repository of individuals with chronic illnesses such as cancer and kidney disease.

Why this status: The national policy commits to a digital data repository for people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and kidney disease.

Establish mechanisms for social and psychological support for women affected by violence and abuse.

Why this status: The national policy commits to mechanisms for social and psychological support for women affected by violence and abuse.

Provide financial assistance for women-headed families, single parent families, and women affected by Gender-based/intimate partner violence based on needs and income levels.

Why this status: The national policy commits to needs- and income-based financial assistance for women-headed families, single-parent families and women affected by gender-based/intimate-partner violence.

Introduce electric fences to prevent elephant movement to villages and maintain them with the help of community participation.

Why this status: Under way. The Government has initiated a human-elephant-conflict programme that includes plans for 800 kilometres of electric fencing to protect villages, while a community programme trained electric-fence assistants in maintenance and coordination. The reviewed evidence does not establish that the planned fencing network has been completed.

Public Consultation will be made mandatory in conducting feasibility studies for development projects.

Why this status: The environmental-policy section lists mandating public consultation when conducting feasibility studies for development projects. This is a formal implementation direction, but the source does not show universal compliance.

Introduce and regulate scientific methods for treating wastewater from domestic and industrial activities.

Why this status: The government has an approved sanitation policy covering domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and approved construction of mechanical sewage treatment plants in selected local authorities. This is implementation underway, not universal completion or full regulation.

Implement existing guidelines for soil conservation and develop new recommendations as needed.

Why this status: The Hadabima Authority has a 2026 soil-conservation programme targeting 1,350 hectares in identified Central Highlands divisional areas, using biological, crop-based and mechanical methods to reduce erosion. This is direct implementation, though it does not demonstrate nationwide application of all existing and new soil-conservation guidance.

Develop and implement scientifically developed sustainable land-use plans for agricultural, industrial, and residential uses.

Why this status: The national policy commits to developing and implementing scientifically developed sustainable land-use plans for agricultural, industrial and residential uses.