A recent micro survey conducted by NPC in Jaffna offers a revealing snapshot of public opinion in the north. The survey, carried out among young people at a focus group discussion on citizen perceptions of the electoral process, points to a cautiously improving mood. Its findings broadly align with a national survey by Verité Research that showed government approval at 65 percent in early February 2026.

Among the predominantly young and educated respondents in Jaffna, a majority say they feel safer and more fairly treated than in the past. About 78 percent report that their livelihoods have improved and an equal number say they feel safe in their daily lives. Three quarters express satisfaction with the new government while 64 percent believe the state now treats their language and culture more fairly. These are not small gains in a region that bore the heaviest burden of three decades of war.

These responses suggest that the political change at the centre has begun to have an impact on everyday perceptions in the north. For many years communities there felt distant from the institutions of the state and often viewed them with mistrust. A greater sense of fairness in administration and a reduction in fear in daily life can therefore be seen as important steps in rebuilding confidence between the state and citizens. The fact that young people express these views is particularly significant as they represent a generation that grew up in the shadow of war but now seeks a more normal and secure future.

But the optimism is tempered by significant reservations. Only a quarter of respondents say they are satisfied with how past grievances have been handled. The same proportion see no change in land and military related concerns. Most strikingly, nearly 90 percent express anxiety about land being taken without consent for religious purposes. Many are also unsure whether the future will be better than the present. These concerns cannot be dismissed as marginal. They point to deeper structural questions that remain unresolved, including land rights, demilitarisation, accountability and the sharing of political power. For many in the north these are not abstract political debates but issues that affect daily life and dignity. Land in particular remains a highly sensitive matter, linked not only to livelihood but also to identity, heritage and community security.

The survey therefore points to a moment of opportunity as well as risk. The present level of public goodwill towards the government creates space to address long standing grievances in a constructive manner. If the government takes credible steps to resolve land disputes, reduce the military presence in civilian life and engage sincerely with questions of political power sharing, the current improvement in public sentiment could deepen into lasting reconciliation. But if these issues remain unaddressed, the gains in public confidence may prove fragile. The experience of the past shows that goodwill can quickly dissipate when expectations are not met. Sustaining the present positive trend will require consistent effort, transparency and a willingness to tackle the difficult political questions that lie at the heart of Sri Lanka’s long ethnic conflict.