By Adolf
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to office promising a new political culture — one built on discipline, humility, and accountability. For a nation long disillusioned by arrogance and corruption, he represented the hope of moral renewal and clean governance. Yet today, that hope is being tested by some of his own ministers who appear to have mistaken power for entitlement.
From the Power Minister’s questionable deals to the controversies surrounding Chamuditha, Wasantha, and Wijepala, the government’s image is beginning to erode. The Police Minister, in particular, often behaves more like a political cowboy than a responsible public servant — using Parliament as a platform for theatrics rather than accountability. His confidence seems to stem less from conviction and more from the unchecked power of his position.
A Question of Discipline
The President must now confront a difficult question: is this the disciplined administration he promised the people? If such behaviour continues unrestrained, this government will soon appear indistinguishable from the ones he spent years condemning. The public did not vote for more noise and spectacle — they voted for integrity, humility, and effective governance.
The issue surrounding Vijitha Herath’s land disclosure has further raised questions about transparency and ethical standards. The President’s silence in the face of such concerns only reinforces the perception that he is hesitant to hold his ministers to account. Leadership, however, is not about protecting one’s own; it is about doing what is right, even when it is politically inconvenient.
The Rise of Sajith
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is steadily gaining ground. His successive victories in professional associations and civil society groups suggest a shift in public sentiment. When Sajith says he “feels like the President,” it may sound like political bravado — but it also reflects a growing perception that he is more attuned to the struggles of ordinary citizens. If left unchecked, that perception could soon harden into political reality.President Dissanayake’s moral authority remains his greatest asset. But each instance of ministerial arrogance or misconduct chips away at that authority. The people expected him to lead by example — and to demand the same of those who serve under him. It is time he reminded his Cabinet that they are public servants, not masters of the state. If the President fails to rein in his ministers now — many of whom behave like unruly schoolboys intoxicated by newfound power — he risks losing the moral high ground that propelled him to leadership. The country cannot afford yet another administration consumed by ego, infighting, and disorder.
Roughly 40% of the public still believes President Dissanayake is capable of delivering real change. But belief without visible action soon turns into disillusionment. The honeymoon period is over. It is now time to show that courage and discipline apply not only to opponents but also to his own team.
Otherwise, history will remember him not as the reformer who changed the system, but as the man who allowed his promise to slip away — one unruly minister at a time. And if that happens, the political backlash will be far more severe than what even Gotabaya Rajapaksa endured.
