evidence: Data from the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) and anecdotal evidence indicate that the left-leaning National People’s Power (NPP) is likely to clinch the presidential elections. If this indeed happens, it will mark a sea change in Sri Lankan politics. [...] However, growing inequality, mounting national debt, and decline in state capacity culminated in a severe financial crisis. The turmoil of 2022 served as a wake-up call for many Sri Lankans, prompting widespread disillusionment with the political establishment. Out of this chaos emerged the NPP. Tapping into mass yearning for substantive change, the NPP swiftly gained traction as a viable alternative, capitalizing on the collective desire for a new direction in governance amid economic and political instability. The primary appeal of the NPP lies in its clean slate, allowing the party to distance itself from the entrenched corruption of the political establishment. Notably, the party has championed the 17th amendment to the constitution, acknowledged by most as probably the only positive constitutional amendment. Moreover, the NPP has actively participated in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption crusade, further bolstering its credibility as a force for transparency and accountability. In a nation plagued by systemic corruption within its leadership, these attributes serve as significant selling points, resonating strongly with a populace eager for integrity and ethical governance.