Tracking delivery on manifesto promises

Strengthen anti-dumping laws, introduce new fair-trading laws, and update existing regulations.

Why this status: The anti-dumping and regulatory-update parts have moved beyond an announcement: 2025 regulations set procedures for initiating anti-dumping investigations and price undertakings, and Cabinet approved their submission to Parliament to protect local industries from dumped or subsidized imports. But no official evidence found shows a new fair-trading law being introduced or enacted. The pledge therefore has a substantive delivered component, but not its full legislative package.

Amend the import policy by considering the importance of the protection of local production, assurance of food security, ease of accessing raw materials for production, priority for essential goods and investment goods and competitive access to imports.

Why this status: There is material but incomplete delivery. The Government introduced a 2026 tariff schedule with national levies effective from 1 April 2026, following the budget proposal to move Customs Import Duty bands to 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% and phase out para-tariffs. This is a real import-policy change relevant to access to production inputs and trade competitiveness. However, the available official sources do not demonstrate a complete policy that has delivered each stated objective—protection of local production, food security, priority treatment for essential and investment goods—so the full pledge cannot be rated kept.

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.

Calculate minimum requirements for water storage and introduce methods for replenishing surface and underground water resources.

Why this status: The National Water Resources Policy provides for integrated water conservation and recharge measures, including preventing over-extraction and implementing water recharge. However, no public evidence was found that minimum water-storage requirements have been calculated and introduced as the pledge specifies.

Organize grants and provide tax relief for theatre production and exhibition.

Why this status: Cabinet approved a Rs. 50 million 2026 allocation for projects promoting drama, performing arts and literature at national and regional level, including support for new drama productions and performances and facilities around cinema clusters. This is direct public support for theatre and related arts, but the promise also requires tax relief and the evidence does not show a dedicated tax-exemption package or full production-and-exhibition grant scheme.

Provide scholarships to eligible individuals for international training in all fields of art.

Why this status: Official India–Sri Lanka scholarship information identifies dedicated ICCR scholarships for Sri Lankan students and practitioners in classical music, dance, visual arts, theatre, painting and fine arts, coordinated in Colombo with Sri Lanka's Ministry of Education. This provides real international arts-training opportunities, but the evidence does not show a Sri Lankan-government-funded scholarship programme covering all art fields or the full eligibility and scale promised.

Establish a 'National Fund' for literature, cinema, drama, and other arts, supported continuously by government and private sector.

Why this status: The Central Cultural Fund already provides financial assistance to artistes, and Cabinet gave policy approval in March 2026 to amend its governing Act to suit present needs. The 2025 cultural budget also lists Rs. 52 million for assistance to artists. These measures provide public arts support, but they do not establish the promised continuously supported national fund backed by both government and the private sector.

Establish an efficient pharmaceutical testing laboratory to ensure drug safety.

Why this status: The National Medicines Regulatory Authority currently operates a National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory that tests medicines and related products for quality, safety and efficacy. This substantially covers the function described in the pledge, but the laboratory predates the manifesto and the available evidence does not show that this government established or materially upgraded a new efficient pharmaceutical testing laboratory. The promise is therefore only partially creditable as a new delivery.

Introduce a patient charter to ensure accountability of health workers and protect patients’ rights.

Why this status: The Ministry of Health publishes a Citizen Charter dated 5 February 2024, before the NPP government took office. A patient-rights/accountability document therefore exists, but the available official evidence does not show that this government introduced a new patient charter or strengthened the existing one. It should not be credited as a newly fulfilled pledge.

Certify all laboratory tests and procedures in government health institutions according to ISO standards and provide 24/7 phone access to medical professionals and nurses.

Why this status: The official health policy repeats the ISO-certification component for laboratory tests and procedures, but does not include the manifesto’s separate 24/7 phone-access requirement for medical professionals and nurses. This is a partial match.

Establish an organization to regulate food-related advertisements and implement a code of ethics to ensure advertisements provide accurate information to consumers.

Why this status: Food-advertising regulation has progressed: the Ministry of Health lists Food (Labelling and Advertising) Regulations 2026 among the current regulations, and the related 2026 draft has been opened for public and industry comment. This is relevant to accurate consumer information. However, there is no official evidence that a dedicated food-advertising regulator or the promised standalone code of ethics has been established, so the full pledge is only partially delivered.

Establish an independent regulatory unit under the Ministry of Education to regulate the quality and fees of programs offered by existing private educational institutions.

Why this status: The official policy commits to an independent regulatory unit to regulate programmes at existing private educational institutions, but it does not include the manifesto’s separate fee-regulation requirement. This is a partial policy match, not full delivery.