Public confidence in Sri Lanka's government has declined significantly since February, with approval ratings falling from 65% to 50% as citizens express growing pessimism about economic conditions, according to a new national poll.
Sri Lanka's government approval rating has moderated to 50 percent in July 2026, marking a substantial decline from the post-election high of 65 percent recorded in February, according to the latest 'Mood of the Nation' poll conducted by Verité Research in partnership with Vanguard Survey. Disapproval ratings have more than doubled during the same period, rising from approximately 15 percent to 31 percent.
Public sentiment regarding the nation's economic trajectory has deteriorated sharply over recent months. Only 42 percent of respondents believe the economy is improving, a significant drop from 64 percent in February, while 40 percent now believe conditions are worsening. More than half of those surveyed, 56 percent, characterised current economic conditions as poor, compared to a majority that rated conditions positively in the previous round.
The overall Economic Confidence Index, which combines assessments of both economic outlook and current conditions, has returned to negative territory at minus 8. This marks a reversal from consistent positive readings since February 2025, though it remains above the minus 39 recorded in mid-2024. The index ranges from minus 100 to plus 100.
The nationally representative survey polled 2,013 adults across separate households between July 11 and 30, with a maximum sampling error margin of ±2.21 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. The findings suggest a notable shift in public perception of government performance and economic management during the six-month period following the February elections.
