Tracking delivery on manifesto promises

Increase the capacity and accessibility of the National Archive by establishing an efficient archival system and public record management using modern technologies such as Block Chain, Cloud and AI.

Why this status: The Government adopted a National Policy on Archives and Records Management in April 2025 and directed preparation of a replacement Archives and Records Management Bill. The National Archives says the policy encourages new technologies to improve access and transparency. This is a meaningful institutional foundation, but there is no evidence yet of the pledged blockchain, cloud and AI-enabled archival system or a completed capacity/access expansion, so it remains underway.

Establish 'Technology Development Centers' in selected districts.

Why this status: A Technology Service and Support Centre (technology incubation centre) was opened at the University of Vavuniya in January 2026 to transfer technology and support SMEs and entrepreneurs in the Northern Province. It is concrete delivery of the model, but the pledge calls for centres in selected districts and no national rollout count is yet verified.

Deploy proper waste disposal bins and facilities to reduce environmental pollution by e-waste and promote recycling.

Why this status: An e-waste collection centre has been opened by Colombo Municipal Council and the Western Province Waste Management Authority, providing a concrete recycling facility. The evidence is local rather than national and does not demonstrate broad deployment of bins and facilities, so this is assessed as early progress only.

Establish Research and Development centers and ICT parks in the Western, Northern, Eastern, and Southern provinces.

Why this status: A Technology Service and Support Centre was opened at the University of Vavuniya to support innovation, commercialisation and SMEs in the Northern Province. This is a concrete beginning, but no evidence verifies R&D centres and ICT parks across all four promised provinces.

Create inclusive theaters and sports facilities to enhance the artistic and cultural participation of persons with disabilities.

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

Ensure communication and IT facilities in primary and secondary schools for students with disabilities.

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

Establish special education and child development resource centers in every educational zone.

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

Create an online information center to provide families of people with disabilities access to resources and information about government policies.

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

Establish a system of elderly care centers that meet international standards.

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

Introduce e-library systems in all local libraries and connect them to global e-library networks.

Why this status: The Jaffna Public Library e-library programme was launched in September 2025 with online collection access, integrated management, smart-card access and assistive technology. This is concrete implementation of the e-library model. It does not establish that all local libraries are connected, nor that they are linked to global e-library networks, so the national pledge remains underway.

Provide free internet access to all State universities, technical colleges, schools, and libraries.

Why this status: School digital access is expanding: the Prime Minister said internet facilities were being provided for secondary schools after smart-board deployment. This is relevant progress toward education connectivity. The evidence does not establish free service, coverage of every school, or provision across all state universities, technical colleges and libraries, so the much broader pledge is still underway.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Establish government-owned pharmacies in every town.

Why this status: The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation has continued a government programme to expand Rajya Osusala branches: its 64th branch opened in Kiribathgoda in April 2025, and its 67th branch opened in Batticaloa in October 2025. This is strong evidence of active expansion of government-owned pharmacies, but the official outlet list does not establish a branch in every town.

Establish community educational centres in each divisional secretariat area, integrated with local educational institutions, libraries, and cultural centres.

Why this status: The official adult-education policy repeats the commitment to community educational centres in each divisional secretariat area integrated with local institutions, libraries and cultural centres. The policy is evidence of planned implementation, not nationwide completion.

Provide internet facilities in all tertiary education institutes, lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, and cafeterias, meeting recognized industry standards.

Why this status: The UGC's 2025–2029 Strategic Plan provides staged targets to upgrade physical and digital university infrastructure and to make digital resources available for teaching, learning and research. That is evidence of an active national implementation programme, but it is not evidence that internet facilities meeting recognized standards are already available in every named tertiary-education space.

Establish a National Examination Evaluation Center equipped with all necessary technological and physical facilities.

Why this status: The Ministry’s 2025 progress report identifies the National Evaluation Centre as a current government-policy target. That is evidence of formal implementation intent, but the report does not show a completed centre, equipment procurement, or operational results. The pledge is therefore tracked as underway with low-to-moderate confidence, not fulfilled.

Establish a government school system for primary education such that every child has a school within 3 km of their home or parents' place of work.

Why this status: The 2026–2030 Public Investment Programme adopts the policy direction of ensuring access to a primary school within 3 km of a child's home. That places the pledge in the current national implementation framework. The document does not demonstrate that every child already has this access or report a completed school-network rollout, so the rating is underway rather than kept.