Monday May 04, 2026
Monday May 04, 2026
Monday, 4 May 2026 07:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used his May Day addresses to signal an acceleration in legal action against corruption and wrongdoing, while positioning the Government’s policy direction around worker-focused reforms and economic stabilisation.
Addressing rallies in Nuwara Eliya and Maharagama, the President said a number of cases involving alleged fraud and corruption were now progressing through the legal system, with several expected to be taken up in court during May and at least one verdict anticipated within the month.
He said investigations had been intensified under the current administration, with key institutions including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Bribery Commission playing a central role in advancing cases. The President warned that 2026 would see a significant number of individuals accused of corruption facing imprisonment, stressing that enforcement would apply across all political and social ranks.
“We do not distinguish between Presidents, Prime Ministers, or their families. The law will apply equally to all,” he said, adding that legal proceedings against individuals accused of wrongdoing would unfold “case by case” in the coming months.
Framing the Government’s approach as a shift in governance priorities, Dissanayake said decisions were now being made in favour of the public while reducing privileges previously enjoyed by those in power. He described the administration as one built on public trust and oriented towards improving outcomes for the working population.
In his official May Day message, the President highlighted a set of economic indicators, including a reduction in the Budget deficit to its lowest level since 1977 and Government revenue reaching its highest level since 2007. He also noted that export earnings exceeded $ 17 billion and foreign remittances reached record levels in 2025.
He said the Government had introduced a range of measures aimed at improving living standards, including increases in public sector salaries, higher minimum wages in the private sector, and expanded social protections. He also pointed to targeted support for vulnerable groups and sectors, including plantation workers, farmers, and small-scale entrepreneurs.
The addresses also outlined broader policy priorities, including reforms in education, the development of a digital economy and infrastructure initiatives, alongside recovery efforts following recent natural disasters.
The President said the Government’s objective was to ensure stable incomes, strengthen the rule of law, and build a more resilient economy, with the working population positioned as the central driver of long-term growth.
