Tracking delivery on manifesto promises

Remove existing barriers for young freelancers earning foreign exchange through online platforms.

Why this status: The government’s official national policy repeats this commitment as a youth or environmental key activity. That is a formal implementation direction, but no nationwide completion evidence is shown, so the promise remains in the works.

Provide vocational and technical education for youth who have passed A/L examinations but could not gain admission to state universities.

Why this status: The government’s official national policy repeats this commitment as a youth or environmental key activity. That is a formal implementation direction, but no nationwide completion evidence is shown, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish an online database for unemployed youth, a job bank for placements, and manage the process via an online platform to systematically reduce unemployment.

Why this status: The government’s official national policy repeats this commitment as a youth or environmental key activity. That is a formal implementation direction, but no nationwide completion evidence is shown, so the promise remains in the works.

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.

Implement educational reforms in line with international standards aimed at fostering life skills and knowledge in a child-friendly educational environment.

Why this status: Partly delivered. A new student-centred, future-skills curriculum was officially launched for Grade 1 in 2026, replacing an examination-centred approach and including STEM, environmental activity, English and second-language learning. The reforms have not yet reached all grades, so a system-wide child-friendly education reform is incomplete.

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.

Increase budgetary allocation to critical areas including education, health, and social services for child welfare.

Why this status: Delivered substantially as an allocation commitment. The Government introduced child-focused 2025 Budget measures including Rs. 1 billion for monthly support to children in institutional or guardian care, and reports increased investment in health, education and social protection for children. The pledge called for increased allocation to these areas, rather than a specified outcome target.

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.

Establish a national salary structure that minimizes wage disparities and motivates employees.

Why this status: The government implemented a staged public-sector salary revision and legislated substantial private-sector minimum-wage increases. These measures address wages and some disparities, but no evidence shows a unified national salary structure that minimizes wage disparities across all workers as promised.

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 support for nutritious food packages during pregnancy and the first year of childbirth for low-income families.

Why this status: Partly delivered. The 2026 Budget funds continued nutrition assistance for pregnant and lactating mothers and says coverage will be widened. The reviewed evidence does not establish the promised low-income targeting, food-package form, or complete coverage through the first year after birth.

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.

Provide a minimum monthly financial grant of Rs. 10,000 to persons with chronic illnesses on a needs basis.

Why this status: Partly delivered. A Rs. 10,000 monthly allowance is in place for low-income patients with chronic kidney disease, but the available official evidence does not establish the promised support across the wider category of persons with chronic illnesses.