As President Anura Kumara Dissanayake approaches the second anniversary of his administration this September, he is preparing to lead a series of district-level public rallies aimed at revitalizing support for the National People’s Power (NPP) government. The campaign, set to begin next month, involves the President addressing large-scale gatherings across multiple districts, a shift from the smaller village-level meetings that have been held recently.

Party officials describe the rallies as part of a broader strategy to strengthen connections between the central party leadership and its grassroots supporters. The objective is to better integrate local council members and village communities with state institutions, enhancing communication and engagement at the local level. Initial phases of this reorganization have included several smaller meetings featuring ministers, members of Parliament, and local representatives, but the new phase emphasizes larger-scale weekend rallies to maximize attendance.

The first rally featuring President Dissanayake will take place on September 6 in the Kalutara District, followed by events in Polonnaruwa on September 12, Anuradhapura on September 13, Matara on September 20, and Gampaha on September 27. The rallies will continue through October, ahead of the presentation of the government’s budget to Parliament on November 12.

Political observers note that the President’s public appearances have often coincided with efforts to repair the party’s image after setbacks. Recent opinion polls indicate a significant decline in government approval ratings as of July. Opposition leaders, including Namal Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Sajith Premadasa, have been actively holding village-level meetings that criticize the government’s performance, particularly on issues such as the cost of living and agricultural challenges. The SLPP credits Rajapaksa’s grassroots outreach with boosting his and his party’s popularity, and views the NPP’s decision to deploy President Dissanayake for rallies as a direct response to this strategy.

The SLPP plans to build on the momentum from its village visits by organizing larger public meetings in main towns. They have also reported receiving numerous invitations from people in the Northern and Eastern provinces, including a likely visit to Batticaloa by Namal Rajapaksa.

In contrast, the NPP emphasizes that its rallies aim to clearly communicate the government’s political vision and development goals rather than focus on electoral prospects such as the upcoming Provincial Council elections. Party representatives argue that opposition meetings have been exaggerated in the media and maintain that their gatherings provide a more accurate reflection of public support.

Separately, President Dissanayake has been active on the official front, attending significant events outside Colombo this week. At the 42nd National Milad-un-Nabi State Celebration in Negombo on Wednesday, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the controversial 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which proposes raising the retirement age for superior court judges. The President dismissed calls to withdraw the amendment, describing efforts to generate opposition as overblown and stressing the government’s willingness to address any shortcomings.

On Thursday, the President visited Kandy to attend the concluding ceremonies of the annual Esala Perahera festival. During the visit, he paid respects at the Malwathu Maha Viharaya and the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya, meeting with the chief prelates of these main Buddhist chapters. This marked the first such engagement since the religious leaders had formally raised concerns about the 22nd Amendment, specifically regarding the retirement age of judges. While the government claims to have responded to the prelates’ concerns, no public statement has yet been issued by the religious authorities.

On Friday, President Dissanayake participated in a distribution ceremony in Poonagala, Badulla, handing out deed titles to beneficiaries of Phase III of the Indian Housing Project, as well as houses for families displaced by a 2023 landslide in the area. During the event, he announced plans to introduce legislation by the end of this year or early next year to establish a Central Highlands Protection Authority. This body would consolidate the powers of various agencies responsible for environmental protection in the region, with some powers being devolved to achieve more coordinated management.