Sri Lankans overwhelmingly cite the economy and inflation as their biggest concerns going into the September Presidential Election in the latest IHP Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling during April to July 2024. However, concerns about unemployment have been rising since the start of the year, whilst the numbers of Sri Lankans citing corruption and drugs as top national problems have been declining.

The SLOTS poll asks respondents to name the top two problems facing the country, with responses being unprompted. During April–July 2024, 59% named the economy (+3 points from Jan.–Mar. 2024) and 55% inflation (-7pts) as their top concerns. This was followed by 38% mentioning unemployment (+9pts) and 21% high taxes (-0.5pts). Smaller numbers of Sri Lankans cited corruption (6%), health (6%), drugs (5%), and education (4%) as in their top two concerns. 

Whilst the overall economy and inflation remain the biggest concerns, there has been a large increase (22pts since 2023) in Sri Lankans thinking unemployment is one of the top problems facing the country, a larger increase than in those citing high taxes as a top problem (+8pts). In contrast, concerns with corruption (-5pts) and drugs (-6pts) have declined. 

Whilst there is broad consensus that the economy is the most pressing national problem, better-off and poorer Sri Lankans differ in their perceptions about what is important. The least affluent third of Sri Lankans are more likely (69%) that the richest third (52%) to think the economy is a top priority. In contrast, poorer Sri Lankans are less likely (54%) than the better-off (63%) to cite inflation as a top problem. An even bigger contrast is seen with unemployment, which only one in five (18%) of poorest Sri Lankans cite as a top priority compared with one in two of the middle and most affluent Sri Lankans. 

The poorest one third of Sri Lankans differ in their concerns in other ways compared with the most affluent third. High taxes appear to be a problem that vexes the better-off more, with twice as many of the middle and most affluent Sri Lankans (25%) citing it as a top problem compared to the poorest third (12%). In contrast, the poorest one third of Sri Lankans are much more likely to cite health (12%) and education (10%)—areas where government spending is critical—as being national problems than the better-off (health 3%, education 1%). Poorer Sri Lankans are also much more likely (9%) to cite the drug problem as a top issue than the most affluent do (2%).

Economic issues and inflation are the top concerns across all age groups. Younger Sri Lankans (18–29 years) are most concerned about inflation (60%), while concern about the economic crisis increases with age, reaching 67% among those aged 60 and older. Job-related concerns are most common among the younger population, but decrease with age.