Tracking delivery on manifesto promises

Use modern engineering technology to save mangroves and coastal environmental systems and reduce coastal erosion.

Why this status: There is a funded coastal-erosion intervention: the 2026 Budget allocates Rs. 100 million for an immediate practical and permanent solution to coastal erosion at the Kalu River lagoon. This is relevant implementation, but the official evidence does not yet document the promised modern engineering approach, mangrove protection, or a programme covering coastal ecosystems nationally. It is therefore progress, not completion.

Implement suitable methods, identified by research and development-based pilot projects, to minimize human-animal conflicts.

Why this status: Cabinet considered a comprehensive programme to reduce wild-animal damage to crops and livelihoods, developed with input from universities, farmers, environmental groups and public bodies, and established a ministerial review mechanism. The public record does not yet show the promised R&D-pilot methods being adopted, so this remains in progress.

Establish a national commission to manage and conduct proper research and development in indigenous medicine.

Why this status: The policy directly commits to a national commission to manage and conduct research and development in indigenous medicine. No evidence shows the commission is operational.

Implement research and development-based solutions to promote inquiry-based learning in school education.

Why this status: The education system has established a research advisory committee, approved school-based research studies, and begun an action-research journal and school research activities. These are credible R&D foundations, but official material does not yet demonstrate system-wide adoption of inquiry-based learning methods.

Implement a zero VAT rate on IT equipment, including computers and locally developed software.

Why this status: Stalled. Current Inland Revenue guidance continues to apply the 18 percent standard VAT rate and confines the zero rate largely to exports. It does not record a 0 percent VAT rate for computers, IT equipment or locally developed software.

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.

Introduce necessary legal reforms and new laws to remove information asymmetry prevailing in the market.

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

Introduce a legal framework to ensure transparency and fairness in line with internationally accepted principles and practices for accepting and retaining investment.

Why this status: The Government is advancing a legal package aimed at investor confidence and transparency. The 2026 Budget reports amendments to the Strategic Development Projects Act and Colombo Port City Commission Act to streamline FDI and enhance incentive transparency, and says a PPP Bill and an Investment Protection Act are to follow. Because the core new Acts were still described as drafts or future legislation, the evidence supports active reform rather than a completed legal framework.

Amend the Foreign Exchange Act to reconcile remittance inflows and improve operational efficiency.

Why this status: An official government policy or Cabinet decision directly addresses this commitment. It is evidence of a formal implementation direction, but not proof of nationwide completion, so it remains in the works.

Introduce an online system for tax assessment, filing, paying, and refunding of excess tax incorporated with a mobile application.

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

Introduce a unique digital identification code (UDI) to every citizen to liaise with the government to access public services.

Why this status: Under way. The Government has initiated the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity project, intended to give Sri Lankans a secure biometric digital identity, and has approved a linked Government Super App for access to public services. The reviewed sources describe project implementation and planned issuance, not universal rollout to every citizen.

Integrate the operations of the Excise Department, Sri Lanka Customs, Department of Motor Traffic, and Land Registry Office with the Inland Revenue Department to ensure tax efficiency and fairness.

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

Establish a new dedicated unit for designing and implementing tax policies with a special section on international transactions.

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

Enforce standards and provide specialized transport services to facilitate the use of public and private transportation for persons with disabilities.

Why this status: A low-floor priority bus service for persons with disabilities and special needs was launched at Makumbura as a joint government pilot, with passenger information through a mobile app. This is direct transport-access delivery, but it is a pilot rather than the comprehensive system promised.

Ensure the safety and accessibility of persons with disabilities when designing buildings by enforcing relevant building codes and standards.

Why this status: Under way. The 2026 Budget identifies revision of disability-accessibility regulations to international standards as a priority and allocates funds for accessibility improvements at public locations. The new regulations and sector-wide enforcement are not yet evidenced.

Enforce the allocation of 3% of jobs in public and private sectors for the disabled community, and gradually increase this quota to 5%.

Why this status: Under way. The 2026 Budget acknowledges that the existing 3 percent government-employment allocation for persons with disabilities has not been properly implemented, commits to recruit that 3 percent in future public-service recruitment, and proposes a private-sector wage subsidy. It does not yet demonstrate enforcement in both sectors or the promised increase to 5 percent.

Expand knowledge and awareness of inclusive education among schoolteachers, NGO representatives, and university lecturers.

Why this status: The education-reform programme includes training teachers and other key stakeholders on educating students with special needs, and the Ministry's transformation plan also calls for strengthening teacher educators and training NCOE lecturers. This is credible progress toward the pledge, but the public evidence does not show completed nationwide training or comparable outreach to NGO representatives, so it should not be rated kept.

Ensure inclusive education for school students with disabilities.

Why this status: Implementation is underway but not complete. The 2026 Budget funds a Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance for low-income disabled schoolchildren specifically to improve participation in inclusive education, while the Prime Minister described a phased programme to equip at least one school in each education administrative zone. The same official statements acknowledge that participation remains low, so the evidence supports active rollout rather than a fulfilled nationwide guarantee.

Provide high-quality, affordable, inclusive, and accessible early childhood education for children 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 an evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness of services provided to 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.

Amend existing laws, introduce new legislation related to persons with disabilities, and enforce international conventions like the UNCRDP.

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 youth environmental committees at local government levels.

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.

Create a National Environmental Action Center in collaboration with all environmental organizations and activists.

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 a National Political Education Academy to improve political leadership skills.

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.