Political alchemy; from messiah to machinery: Rise and mutation of AKD - Part 1

AT both elections, the JVP/NPP manipulated public opinion through misinformation and targeted messaging, backed by powerful media and corporate interests.

- By Dr. Jayalath Bandara Adikarige

This manipulation helped craft a distorted political reality, where “truth” became subjective and pliable, enabling irrational promises and prioritising short-term populism over sustainable reform.

During his presidential campaign, Anura Kumara Disanayake (AKD) vowed to eliminate anti-democratic forces, end corruption, and revoke perks for former Presidents, arguing they deserve no more than ordinary citizens. After winning, he promised to challenge the status quo and ensure accountability. He co-opted the Aragalaya movement, framing its call for systemic change as aligned with the NPP’s broader agenda.

Despite the hope invested in the NPP and AKD for rule-of-law reinforcement, zero tolerance for corruption, and national revitalisation, the chances of those aspirations being fulfilled now seem slim. The harsh reality is that the NPP’s electoral success was built upon a foundation of sweeping promises, many of which will remain unfulfilled. These promises served more as electoral bait than actionable plans. Their manifesto, A Thriving Nation: A Beautiful Life, along with an aggressive media campaign, lulled much of the public into complacency, suppressing critical thought—even among the most educated.

A well-known Australian economics professor emailed to challenge my critique, placing full trust in the NPP’s platform and its assumed flawless implementation. This demonstrates the depth and impact of this manufactured optimism.

Once again, a large portion of the public embraced the party with a fervour that bordered on religious zeal, ignoring scepticism and embracing AKD as a political messiah. Through shrewd propaganda, the NPP claimed its candidates were uniquely qualified compared to rivals.

In many districts, voters supported NPP candidates without knowing anything about the individuals who would represent them. This amounted to blind faith.