February 24, Colombo (LNW): The government’s approval rating has seen a remarkable surge following the recent election, climbing from a modest 24 per cent in July 2024 to an impressive 62 per cent by February 2025, according to the latest findings from Verité Research’s ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll.
This dramatic shift marks a significant turnaround in public opinion, with the current government enjoying its highest approval since the economic crisis.
For the first time in years, a majority of Sri Lankans (55 per cent) now believe the nation’s economic conditions are improving.
This contrasts sharply with the overwhelming negativity that prevailed during the depths of the crisis.
However, despite the positive trend, a substantial 47 per cent of respondents still describe the overall economic situation as “poor,” although this represents a notable decline from 71 per cent in July 2024.
When comparing the results from July 2024 to February 2025, the number of citizens who disapprove of the government’s performance has dropped drastically, from 60 per cent to just 16 per cent.
In the same period, the proportion of people who felt the economy was worsening fell by a staggering 51 points, from 65 per cent to a much lower 14 per cent.
In terms of government approval, 62 per cent of respondents expressed their support, more than doubling the figure recorded in the previous survey. In stark contrast, only 16 per cent voiced disapproval, a sharp reduction from the 60 per cent who disapproved last year.
The survey’s results indicate a clear shift towards greater optimism about both the government’s effectiveness and the country’s economic prospects.
The public’s outlook on the economy has also seen a marked improvement. In response to the question about whether economic conditions are getting better or worse, 55 per cent of participants now believe the economy is improving, up from just 30 per cent in July 2024.
Meanwhile, only 14 per cent think the economy is deteriorating, down substantially from 65 per cent six months ago.
When asked to evaluate the state of the economy, 35 per cent of respondents rated it as “good” or “excellent,” a 7 per cent increase from July 2024. While 47 per cent still consider it to be “poor,” this figure has dropped significantly from 71 per cent, indicating a shift in public perception of the nation’s financial health.
This survey, part of Verité Research’s Syndicated Surveys initiative, was conducted between 31 January and 5 February 2025. It was based on a randomised, nationally representative sample of 1,050 Sri Lankan adults, with a maximum margin of error of ±3.0% at a 95 per cent confidence level. The polling was carried out in partnership with Vanguard Survey (Pvt) Ltd.
