COLOMBO ; Former foreign minister Ali Sabry has sent an open letter to the NPP government with an analytical view of current principles and policies of th government and had advised the present set up to do what is right for the people and the country .
” I have been a student of politics for as long as I can remember, raised in a home where the spirit of the left was not just ideology but identity. My father, an LSSP activist, was a close associate of Cholamondley Goonawardena, and through him, I grew up admiring the titans of Sri Lanka’s socialist past, NM, Colvin, Lesley, Vivian, and Bernard. They were honest, fiercely educated, and driven by a vision of equality, justice, and unity.
But as I grew older and gained a broader understanding of the world, I came to see that honesty, education, and idealism alone are not enough to build a prosperous society. Ideological purity, especially in economics, can become a burden when what we need is results. The world has changed. And everywhere you look, the countries that succeed are those that embrace pragmatism, flexibility, ruthless efficiency, and a results-driven mindset.
This is not a betrayal of values. It is the evolution of them. Because if we are serious about lifting people out of poverty, creating jobs, and restoring faith in the system, we have to get things done.
So, here is my humble opinion for consideration to those currently in government , if they feel worthy
- Talk less. Work more. Let your actions do the talking.
- Don’t get distracted. Every comment made on social media or by critics doesn’t deserve a reply. Focus on delivery.
- Fight corruption, yes. But don’t let it consume your governance bandwidth. Strengthen institutions, fund them, and demand results. Micromanaging investigations daily only politicizes the process and shifts focus away from running the country.
- Avoid weaponizing justice or turning prosecutions into propaganda. The public has seen this play before. Yahapalanaya collapsed under the weight of overpromised prosecutions and underdelivered governance. When you chase headlines over merit-based cases, you risk paralyzing the very state mechanism you need to function.
- This paralysis is already visible. Public officials are increasingly hesitant to take decisions out of fear of being targeted or embarrassed. The cases of Mayadunne and Gammanpila are examples where the system was used not to correct, but to frighten. This undermines confidence and delays execution at every level. Without decision-making, government machinery stalls, and with it, growth.
- Focus on low-hanging fruits. Quick wins in public service delivery, digitization, and SME facilitation can build trust and buy time for deeper reforms.
To your credit, the NPP has brought in some refreshing changes:
• You won without playing the race card.
• You’ve spoken for national unity.
• Your integrity is largely unquestioned.
• You have internal discipline and cohesion across your ranks.
These are rare and admirable qualities in Sri Lankan politics. But they are not enough.
People are watching and waiting for economic revival, job creation, efficient services, law and order, and corruption-free daily life. Not just investigations of the past, but a cleaner, better-functioning state today.
The recent local government election results were a message loud and clear. Patience is running out. And political capital, like time, is not infinite.
Sri Lanka cannot afford another lost decade. From 2005 to 2015, our GDP per capita grew from $1,200 to $4,000. But since then, we’ve stagnated. We’ve lost precious time and people are weary of experiments.
I say this not as a critic, but as someone who wants this government to succeed. Most of us do,regardless of who we voted for. Because the cost of failure is shared by all.
Yes, we governed. Yes, we made mistakes. But we also took painful decisions to restore macroeconomic stability. The people didn’t love us for it and that’s democracy. But now it’s your moment.
Govern with maturity. Lead with humility and empathy. Deliver with urgency.
Don’t lose the momentum. If you do, you may never get it back.
With hope,
A concerned Sri Lankan who still believes in progressive positive change, not rhetoric.
P.S. I am out of politics for good and do not expect any personal favors, but a thriving country for all Sri Lankans including my kids..””
