Dissanayake’s approval holds firm at 75%
But half of Sri Lankans say household finances have worsened, CPA survey finds
COLOMBO – Public confidence in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake remains substantially higher than in Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, even as a majority of Sri Lankans report that their household economic situation has deteriorated over the past year, according to the Centre for Policy Alternatives’ (CPA) Social Indicator July 2026: Confidence in Democratic Governance Index.
The survey found 75.5% of respondents were satisfied with President Dissanayake’s performance, against 29.4% for Premadasa. Dissatisfaction with the Opposition Leader stood at 64.9%, nearly three times the President’s 23.3%.
Dissanayake’s approval was highest among the Malaiyaha Tamil community (94.4%) and Muslims (93.4%), with 69.9% of Sinhala respondents also satisfied. Support peaked among 18-to-29-year-olds (81.6%) and rural residents (76.4%).
Premadasa’s ratings, by comparison, stayed below 50% in every demographic group, topping out at 42.1% among Muslims and 40.7% among Malaiyaha Tamils, and falling to 28.3% among Tamils and 27.4% among Sinhalese.
The President’s strong personal ratings sit alongside a bleaker picture of household finances. Over half of respondents (51.4%) said their economic situation had worsened compared with a year earlier, 30.3% reported no change, and only 18.2% said things had improved.
Pessimism was most pronounced among Sinhala respondents (53.9%) and Muslims (49.2%), while the Malaiyaha Tamil community was more evenly split, with 37% reporting improved finances. Older respondents (over 30) were more likely than younger ones to report worsening conditions, and urban residents were slightly more pessimistic than rural respondents.
On the cost of living specifically, opinion of the government’s handling was nearly split down the middle: 45.3% satisfied, 44% dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction ran highest among Sinhala respondents (48.4%), while satisfaction was strongest among Malaiyaha Tamils (66.7%) and Tamils (60%). Younger respondents were more satisfied than older ones, and rural residents were more satisfied than urban.
The survey recorded wider confidence in the National People’s Power (NPP) Government’s overall governance, with 62.8% satisfied with its delivery of efficient administration against 23.1% dissatisfied. Confidence was highest among Tamil (80.7%), Malaiyaha Tamil (79.6%) and Muslim (76.9%) respondents. Among Sinhala respondents, 57.3% were satisfied, though this group also recorded the highest dissatisfaction, at 26.5%.
The government’s handling of Cyclone Ditwah drew favourable marks, with 68.6% satisfied with progress on relief, recovery and reconstruction, against 22.1% dissatisfied.
On accountability for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, 51.6% expressed satisfaction with progress on investigations and prosecutions, while 32.4% were dissatisfied.
The survey also pointed to sustained public backing for abolishing the Executive Presidency, favoured by 64.1% of respondents overall. Support was qualified, however: only 23.6% wanted the process to begin immediately, while the largest bloc, 40.5%, backed abolition without treating it as an immediate priority. Around 23% opposed abolishing the presidency altogether.
Support for democratic institutions more broadly remained strong, with 67% of respondents saying Provincial Council elections were important, against 20.3% who disagreed.
The survey was conducted between May and June 2026 among 1,240 respondents across all 25 districts.
-ENCL
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