AKD at One: Is the Formula Already Fading?

When Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) stormed into Temple Trees a year ago, it was hailed as the people’s revolution. The firebrand leftist who promised to bury “old politics” under the rubble of corruption and dynastic rule was suddenly the most powerful man in Sri Lanka. Crowds danced in the streets, hashtags trended, and the opposition looked stunned.

But one year later, the question buzzing in tea shops and tuk-tuks is blunt: Is the AKD formula working?

The verdict? A mixed bag with more groans than cheers.

Executive Presidency? Still intact. The man who vowed to slash his own powers seems rather comfortable wielding them. Drafts circulate, but nothing moves.

Corruption busting? Some headlines, some raids, but no big fish in jail. Critics whisper it’s all smoke without fire.

Cost of living? Still unbearable. Yes, inflation dipped, but rice, dhal, and electricity bills eat into every wallet. Ordinary people see no relief.

Debt talks and recovery? Progress made, IMF still smiling, but the streets aren’t. Young graduates still jobless, families still juggling taxes.

Welfare? Digital transfers and some cash handouts, but hardly a cushion against soaring bills.

Foreign policy? Carefully non-aligned, but too careful, some say. Big powers still circle Colombo, while citizens ask who’s really benefiting.

New political culture? The promise that dazzled voters now looks frayed. Rhetoric is fresh, but parliament feels as noisy, divided, and patronage-driven as ever.

AKD’s defenders insist one year is too soon to judge a government battling the wreckage of crisis. His critics say that’s exactly the excuse every leader uses before sliding into the same old story of Sri Lankan politics.

For now, the gossip is biting: the man who vowed to upend the system risks being swallowed by it. Year Two will decide whether AKD is remembered as the president who broke the curse of broken promises — or just added another chapter to it.