Tracking delivery on manifesto promises

Identify, manage, and reduce risk in natural disaster-prone areas.

Why this status: Government agencies are producing current risk and exposure analyses for disaster-prone areas, including a post-Cyclone Ditwah Kelani River Basin assessment that maps hazard categories, population, infrastructure and land-use exposure. This is meaningful risk-identification work, but it does not by itself demonstrate risk reduction across all vulnerable areas.

Establish a National Research Institute for intangible heritage and traditional arts.

Why this status: The national policy commits to establishing a National Research Institute for intangible heritage and traditional arts, identifying and preserving existing heritage.

Build a network of registered music institutions.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish a National Institute for the preservation and promotion of musical traditions.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish art societies from the school level and organize competitions.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish a National Institute to oversee the preservation, study, and research of past and present visual arts and photography.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Provide facilities for the study, research, and preservation of both contemporary and traditional dance forms.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Build a network of registered dance institutions.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish a National Institute dedicated to the preservation and promotion of dance.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Provide facilities for alternative theatre spaces.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish a National Institute for Research and Training in contemporary theatre arts.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish a National Film and Television Study Institute for emerging filmmakers and create a National Film Archive.

Why this status: Cabinet has authorised drafting a replacement cinema law whose stated regulatory areas include film conservation and cinema education. This is a relevant early reform step, but it does not establish a National Film and Television Study Institute or a National Film Archive; the pledge remains at an early implementation stage.

Establish a classification board for film and television works to standardize content.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Modernize cinema halls with an organized plan and ensure that each district has three cinemas.

Why this status: The National Film Corporation has launched a regional initiative to establish and modernize cinema halls, with proposed new halls and modernization projects identified. This is a concrete start on the modernization part of the pledge, but it is not evidence that every district will have three cinemas or that the proposed projects are complete.

Reform the National Film Corporation and establish a National Film Institute.

Why this status: Cabinet approved instructions to draft a Bill repealing the National Film Corporation Act and creating a National Cinema Council with modern regulatory and cinema-promotion functions. That is substantial, official progress on reforming the Corporation, but the Bill is not yet an enacted reform and the evidence does not show a National Film Institute has been established.

Establish a research fund for the literary arts sector and organize annual international research sessions.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish well-developed libraries in every city and suburb to cultivate an active reading community.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Create a database and comprehensive plan to make physical resources like conference halls, theaters, and open-air stages available to the arts sectors.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Provide tax exemptions to various art sectors on selected materials and equipment, such as paper.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Establish cultural zones in every major city, complete with institutions for arts and culture.

Why this status: The government adopted an official cultural policy or ministerial function that repeats this commitment as a key activity. This is evidence of a live implementation direction, but the source does not prove nationwide completion, so the promise remains in the works.

Implementing programs to provide official residences for government employees close to their workplaces.

Why this status: The 2026 Budget proposes relocating government quarters in Ratnapura's old town to the new town area, with Rs. 500 million allocated and the stated aim of meeting long-term residential needs. This is a concrete government-residence project near an urban service centre, but it is localized and does not demonstrate a programme providing official residences close to workplaces nationwide.

Regulate all health services, including private medical services, to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare to patients.

Why this status: The Health Ministry’s 2025 action plan includes strengthening private-health regulation, updated guidelines, a grading system for private medical institutions, accreditation, and worker qualification standards. These are substantial implementation steps, but the documentation is a plan and does not prove that all health services are already effectively regulated.

Increase the treatment capacity of Ayurvedic hospitals, including the number of available beds.

Why this status: The Department of Ayurveda's current official site lists national competitive procurement for hospital equipment for the Borella Ayurveda National Hospital and continuing hospital-related development activity. This is a concrete capacity-building step, but the available record does not quantify new beds or show that treatment capacity has been increased across Ayurvedic hospitals.

Implement special oral health promotion programs aimed at reducing Early Childhood Caries (ECC) among preschool children.

Why this status: The Ministry of Health's Annual Health Bulletin 2024 records a national prevention-and-management initiative for early childhood caries, alongside programmes for pregnant mothers and schoolchildren. This shows the relevant oral-health programme is being delivered, but the bulletin does not provide an outcome measure showing a reduction in ECC among preschool children or establish that the programme was newly expanded to fulfil the pledge.

Provide home-based and institution-based palliative care services for patients with incurable diseases, including cancer and stroke.

Why this status: Sri Lanka now lists a National Policy on Palliative Care for 2025–2030, and the National Cancer Control Programme coordinates hospital, community, hospice and home-based care. This is a substantial service and policy foundation, but the evidence does not establish universal coverage for all people with incurable cancer and stroke.