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By: Staff Writer
February 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankans appear to be increasingly hopeful about the country’s trajectory, with fresh survey findings indicating solid backing for the Government and a marked uplift in economic sentiment.
The latest nationwide “Mood of the Nation” study conducted by Verité Research, in collaboration with Vanguard Survey (Pvt) Ltd, shows that public approval of the administration has climbed to 65 per cent as of early February 2026.
Given the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, this represents a steady yet meaningful rise from the 62 per cent recorded at the same point last year. Levels of disapproval, meanwhile, remain comparatively low and broadly unchanged.
In a notable shift, respondents expressing positive views of current economic conditions now outnumber those who consider them poor — the first time such a crossover has occurred since the survey began four years ago. This development is being interpreted by analysts as a sign that perceptions of economic stabilisation are taking firmer root among the public.
Expectations for the future also appear to be strengthening. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed — 64 per cent — believe the economy is on an upward path, compared with 55 per cent a year earlier. The proportion of participants who feel conditions are deteriorating has seen little movement, while the number of undecided respondents has fallen, suggesting that more citizens have formed clear and increasingly optimistic opinions.
These responses feed into an Economic Confidence Index compiled by the research team, measured on a scale from minus 100 to plus 100. The index has surged to +36, a substantial leap from +14 twelve months ago and its highest reading since the tracking exercise commenced.
General satisfaction with the state of the nation has also edged into majority territory. For the first time in the poll’s history, 59 per cent of respondents indicated that they were content with the overall direction in which the country is heading, pushing aggregate satisfaction beyond the halfway mark.
When asked to compare the present administration’s performance with that of previous governments, participants awarded particularly strong marks for initiatives aimed at tackling narcotics and curbing crime. Interestingly, these efforts were rated even more favourably than anti-corruption measures, traditionally a dominant public concern.
The “Mood of the Nation” survey forms part of Verité Research’s broader syndicated polling initiative, designed to inform macro-political analysis and provide insight into public opinion trends. The platform also enables external organisations to commission additional questions for inclusion in the national sample.
The most recent wave of the survey was conducted between 24 January and 3 February 2026, drawing on a nationally representative, multi-stage random sample of 1,048 adults from separate households across Sri Lanka. Researchers estimate a maximum sampling error of ±3 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level, while noting that minor implementation variances may marginally influence results.
