The National People’s Power begins an islandwide series of public rallies today to mark two years in government, opening in the Kalutara District with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attending.
Two rallies are scheduled this afternoon. The first is at Bulathsinhala at 2.00 p.m., followed by Beruwala at 3.30 p.m., Ada Derana and Hiru News both reported.
Further rallies are planned during September in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Matara and Gampaha.
What the government intends to argue
Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the rallies will set out the government’s work over its first two years, according to the Daily Mirror — pointing to efforts to stabilise the economy, tackle corruption and strengthen action against the illegal drug trade.
The Daily Mirror said the government has pointed to the country’s recovery from the financial crisis as one of its main achievements, alongside measures against corruption and work to improve public institutions.
Dissanayake was sworn in as President in September 2024, and the NPP won a parliamentary supermajority in the general election that November.
A crowded political weekend
The rally series opens on the same day the United National Party marks its 80th anniversary at its Sirikotha headquarters in Pita Kotte, under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe — a point Hiru News noted alongside its report on the NPP campaign.
It also comes days after the arrest and remand of Namal Rajapaksa over an alleged Rs. 100 million Airbus bribe. The SLPP, which has called the case political revenge, says its own rally will go ahead in Anuradhapura on 12 September — the same district the NPP has named for a later stop on this tour. Neither party has commented on the overlap.
Where the accounts differ
The three outlets give two different English versions of the campaign theme. The Daily Mirror calls it “Our Government – Two Years: Good for the Nation”; Ada Derana renders it “Two years strong. Progress for all.” Both appear to be translations of the same Sinhala slogan, and no outlet gives the original.
The outlets also disagree on which rally comes first. The Daily Mirror describes Beruwala Beach Grounds as the site of “the opening rally,” while Ada Derana and Hiru News both place Bulathsinhala first at 2.00 p.m., with Beruwala following ninety minutes later. Two of three accounts, and the only two that give times, put Bulathsinhala first.
Only the Daily Mirror named a venue — Beruwala Beach Grounds — and only it quoted a minister.
Not reported
No outlet gave dates or venues for the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Matara or Gampaha rallies, said how many stops the series will run to, or when it ends. None said who is paying for the campaign, whether the President will attend every rally, or whether the series is timed to the anniversary of the presidential election in September or the parliamentary election in November. No outlet reported an expected turnout or any security arrangements.
