According to the survey, 77.5% of Sri Lankans across four main ethnic communities (Sinhala, Tamil, Malaiyaha Tamil, and Muslim) think the current economic condition is worse than it used to be a year ago, while 21.3% feel it’s better.

This viewpoint is seen across all key ethnic communities.

However, around 35% of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, whose economic conditions are comparatively low, feels their current economic condition is better than how it used to be a year ago. 

Moreover, the survey found that Sri Lankans exhibit a divided opinion when asked to what extent they believe that IMF assistance will enable Sri Lanka to overcome the current economic crisis as 37.1% believe that the IMF assistance will enable Sri Lanka to overcome the current economic crisis to some extent and 35.3% do not believe so.

Only 18.1% believe that IMF assistance will help Sri Lanka overcome the economic crisis to a greater extent.

Further, it stated that slightly over 40% of the Sri Lankans believe that the economic crisis continues although the country is now making serious progress while another 31.8% believe the economic crisis continues and no progress has been made, and 19.3% believe that the economic crisis has worsened.

All ethnic communities also demonstrate a mixed opinion.

However, those who feel that “the economic crisis continues but the country is now making serious progress” are relatively high amongst the Tamil community as opposed to other ethnic groups.

Also, an overwhelming majority of Sri Lankans (81.7%) state that they would vote if there were a presidential election next month. This viewpoint is seen across all key ethnic communities, age groups, genders and localities.

Also, those who state that they would vote are relatively high amongst the male population as opposed to the female population.

Of those who plan to vote in the Presidential elections, 57.1% state that they have not yet decided on a candidate while 42.9% state that they have decided on a candidate.

Imesh Ranasinghe

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