The National People’s Power (NPP) Government was given a landslide victory at the Presidential and Parliamentary General Elections – a powerful mandate which the State is yet to exercise effectively. 

One of the key problems which the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led NPP Government is plagued with, is the lack of governance experience. This is to be expected from a Government with almost 150 ‘new faces’ in Parliament. However, its impact can be devastating for the Government and the country. The JVP has never weathered criticism well, and by extension neither does the NPP. This makes it harder for them to acknowledge shortcomings and learn from mistakes. It is almost like the NPP Government has forgotten that it’s in power. The knee-jerk reactions to criticism and the automatic circling of the wagons in ‘collective defence’ signals a weak posture for the governing party and is far from the character you’d expect from one which held 159 seats in the Parliament.

Inexperience in governance is an unforgiving shortcoming, and the report card of the NPP thus far shows where they have burnt their hands and burnt all of ours collectively in the process. The recent criticism by international donor agencies and development partners; Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the World Bank about the 2024 Electricity Act Amendments is a good example. The Opposition, watchdogs and energy sector experts and those who advocate the reforms agenda which Sri Lanka signed on to with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had flagged these concerns earlier on, however a power drunk NPP acted arrogantly listening only to their own trade union buddies and engineer cabal at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) moving ahead with the troubled amendments, and trying to undo the planned reforms process. Today, in Parliament, the Speaker announced that the Supreme Court had found parts of the amendments to be unconstitutional, with recommendations made by the Court on how to address them. The recent criticism by ADB, WB and JICA which came in the form of a letter to the Energy Minister, was leaked, and the media had a field day reminding the Government that what the donors had flagged was what everyone was talking about for some time. The minister responded on national television stating that the ADB, WB and JICA should have communicated discreetly or ‘diplomatically’ to the Government to air their concerns. He has missed the message and is trying to blame the messenger. This blatant lack of experience and arrogance of key members of Government will come back to bite the NPP in their.. well, later on down the line.

Today, the Government's ill-advised knee-jerk action to reduce port congestion has backfired on them, with the Opposition releasing a report commissioned by a committee which the President appointed to look into the scandal where nearly 300 plus containers had been released from port in a manner which was not following standard protocol. It was revealed that 37 containers which were red flagged for mandatory checking/scanning due to them being classified as high risk for contraband or security concerns, had been released without any checking. A glaring mistake and security breach. The NPP Government which came on a platform of accountability and transparency has shot itself in the foot with such ill-advised actions. Today, they have opened the door for allegations of corruption and malpractice to be levelled against them, and they are standing on shaky ground due to their inexperience.

Another example similar bugling of important issues, came to light recently when Sri Lanka missed the boat, no pun intended on gaining valuable data needed to ensure the island’s food security and exports due to the loss of the fish stock assessment which was to be conducted by the United Nations-linked research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen between July and August. A poor understanding of foreign policy, ocean affairs and bungling by the inherited bureaucracy has jeopardised the country’s chance to map its aquatic resources with the aid of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The research vessel had applied for approval for a joint survey this month, way back in 2023. However, the past Government enacted a moratorium on foreign marine science research, which the NPP Government dropped, but failed to act quickly to provide appropriate approval before the deadline to the research ship. In the end, Sri Lanka loses the opportunity and may have to wait years for another chance.

The NPP Government has to wise up, learn from their mistakes quickly and listen to criticism diligently. Sri Lankans who voted for them, want them to succeed, but the NPP needs to listen and evolve to do so.