The approval rating of the government fell from 21 percent in June 2023 to nine pc in October 2023, according to the latest round of the Gallup style ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll of Verité Research.
The survey also highlighted a substantial decline in overall satisfaction with the state of the nation, which dropped to six pc in October, down from 12 pc in June 2023.
Economic confidence score saw a significant dip from negative (-) 44 in June to negative (-) 62 in October.
The Mood of the Nation poll is conducted three times a year and is based on an islandwide, nationally representative sample of responses.
The survey sample and methodology are designed to limit the maximum error margin to under three pc at a 95 pc confidence level, Verité Research stated in a media release.
Government approval: To the question “Do you approve or disapprove of the way the current government is working?”, nine pc said they approve (with an error margin of ± 1.93 pc).
Further, seven pc said that they do not have an opinion.
The present approval rating is close to the 10 pc in January and October 2022, and February 2023.
Sri Lanka satisfaction: To the question, “In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in Sri Lanka?”, only six pc said they were satisfied (with an error margin of ± 1.66 pc).
This rating was as low as four pc in February 2023.
Economic confidence: Economic confidence worsened, with the score falling to negative (-) 62 in October from negative (-) 44 in June.
However, this decline is still better than the levels observed in 2022 when the economic confidence score fluctuated between negative (-) 96 and negative (-) 78.
Multiple choice questions on the condition and trajectory of the economy are used to generate the economic confidence score. The score can range from negative (-) 100 to positive (+) 100.
A score above zero means more people see the economic conditions positively rather than negatively.
If everyone thinks that the economy is in poor condition (instead of good or excellent), and everyone also thinks it is getting worse (rather than better), then the score will be a (-) 100.
Verité Research said that the 'Mood of the Nation' survey aims to assess public approval, satisfaction and confidence concerning the government, the country, and the economy.
This poll is based on responses from 1,029 Sri Lankan adults and was conducted from 21 to 29 October 2023.
The survey is part of the syndicated survey instrument of Verité Research, carried out in collaboration with polling partner Vanguard Survey (Pvt) Ltd.
This instrument also provides other organizations with an opportunity to gauge public sentiment in Sri Lanka.
