SRI LANKA • CARTOON
LANKA WITNESS • EDITORIAL
LANKA WITNESS
Cartoon of the Day
13 NOVEMBER 2026

Cartoon of the Day

Gap admitted, fix delayed

A government figure says the pension gap will be fixed in phases and a serving public servant notes a pay rise in 2027, while a pensioner who retired between 2020 and 2024 holds a sheet showing Rs. 2,500 arriving in July and asks whether the full fix will come in 2028.BUDGET 2027: PENSIONERS TOLD TO WAITGOVERNMENT“GAP ADMITTED”IN PHASES!SERVING STAFF“PAY REVISED”RAISE: 2027THE PENSIONERRETIRED: 2020-24RS. 2,500: JULY“FULL FIX: 2028?”THE GAP IS ADMITTED. THE PENSIONERS ARE ASKED TO WAIT.
Cartoon of the Day — 13 November 2026: The 2027 Budget gives public servants who retired between 2020 and 2024 a Rs. 2,500 monthly interim allowance only from July 2027, with their full pension revision due to begin in phases from the 2028 Budget, even though the government admits their pensions lag behind those of later retirees. People on fixed incomes deserve a clear cost and timetable for closing that gap sooner.

Editorial satire is commentary, not factual reporting. Lanka Witness cartoons deliberately apply the same standard to government and opposition claims.

Recent cartoons

12 November 2026: Relief, but how much?

A government figure promises tax relief step by step and a Treasury figure urges caution about revenue, while a taxpayer holds a sheet asking about the PAYE limit, noting VAT at 18 per cent, and asking how much relief will come and when.BUDGET 2027: THE SPEECH AT 1.30 PMGOVERNMENT“STEP BY STEP”RELIEF!THE TREASURY“MIND REVENUE”CAREFUL!THE TAXPAYERPAYE LIMIT: ?VAT: 18%“HOW MUCH, WHEN?”EVERYONE PROMISES RELIEF. TODAY THE NUMBERS HAVE TO ADD UP.
Cartoon of the Day — 12 November 2026: The 2027 Budget is presented today, 12 November, amid talk of a higher PAYE tax-free threshold and VAT cuts spread over two to three years, while finance officials warn that early tax cuts could hurt revenue under the IMF-backed programme. Whatever is promised should come with clear figures and dates that government and opposition alike can test before the vote on 20 November.

11 November 2026: Arguing the rules, not the charges

A government figure demands the motion be revised because of court cases and an opposition figure insists on debating it, while a member of the public holds a sheet noting the motion was filed on 9 October with about 50 charges and asks when the debate will happen.PARLIAMENT: THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTIONGOVERNMENT“REVISE IT!”SUB JUDICE!OPPOSITION“DEBATE IT!”OUR RIGHT!THE PUBLICFILED: 9 OCTCHARGES: ABOUT 50“DEBATE: WHEN?”BOTH SIDES ARGUE THE RULES. NOBODY HAS ARGUED THE CHARGES.
Cartoon of the Day — 11 November 2026: A no-confidence motion against the Speaker, filed by 44 opposition MPs on 9 October, is still not debated: government members say some charges are before the courts and want a revised text, while the opposition says it has the right to debate the motion as written. Either way, the charges deserve to be tested openly on the record of Parliament.

10 November 2026: Next Budget, maybe

A government figure tells public servants to be patient and a former-government figure promises next year, while a line of public servants holds a sheet noting unsettled service rules and a cadre list dating from 2015 and asks when exactly.PUBLIC SERVICE: THE PRE-BUDGET QUEUEGOVERNMENT“BUDGET FIRST”BE PATIENT!PAST GOVTS“WE MEANT TO”NEXT YEAR!PUBLIC SERVANTSSERVICE RULES: ?CADRE LIST: 2015“WHEN, EXACTLY?”EVERY GOVERNMENT SAYS “NEXT BUDGET.” THE QUEUE KEEPS GROWING.
Cartoon of the Day — 10 November 2026: Development officers reported sick islandwide on 9 November to demand a service constitution setting promotions and pay scales, and government doctors say their cadre numbers have not been revised since 2015. The delays span several governments; the 12 November Budget is the place to show the fix in numbers.

9 November 2026: Promises are not safeguards

A government figure says trust us and a union member shouts to scrap the bills, while a citizen holds a sheet listing new search powers with a question mark beside court checks and asks to see it in writing.SECURITY BILLS: THE UNION RALLYGOVERNMENT“NO HARM MEANT”TRUST US!UNIONS“HANDS OFF!”SCRAP IT!THE CITIZENNEW SEARCH POWERSCOURT CHECKS: ?“IN WRITING?”A PROMISE IN A SPEECH IS NOT A SAFEGUARD IN THE LAW.
Cartoon of the Day — 9 November 2026: As unions and opposition activists rallied in Colombo on 6 November against the new anti-terror and organised-crime bills, the government said the laws would not harm unions or media freedom. Rights groups say court oversight is too weak; whoever holds power next inherits these powers, so the safeguards belong in the text.

8 November 2026: Relief, with a price tag

A government figure announces income tax relief and an opposition figure demands bigger cuts, while a taxpayer holds a sheet noting the 12 November Budget date and a 345 million dollar IMF tranche and asks who pays.BUDGET 2027: THE PRE-BUDGET PROMISESGOVERNMENT“TAX RELIEF!”PAYE CUT!OPPOSITION“CUT MORE!”BIGGER!THE TAXPAYERBUDGET: 12 NOVIMF TRANCHE: $345M“WHO PAYS?”EVERY PROMISE HAS A PRICE TAG. PUT BOTH IN THE BUDGET.
Cartoon of the Day — 8 November 2026: Days before the 12 November Budget, the President has signalled further PAYE tax relief, while the IMF has tied its next $345 million tranche to a Budget within agreed limits. Whoever promises cuts, government or opposition, owes the public the costing to match.

7 November 2026: The monthly fuel formula

A government figure points to a pricing formula and an opposition figure demands tax cuts, while a three-wheeler driver holds a sign asking to see the calculation.FUEL PRICES: THIS MONTH’S REVISIONGOVERNMENT“WORLD PRICES”FORMULA!OPPOSITION“CUT THE TAX!”TOO HIGH!THE TUK DRIVERPETROL: UP RS.10FARES: SAME“SHOW THE MATHS”EVERYONE QUOTES THE FORMULA. NOBODY PUBLISHES THE MATHS.
Cartoon of the Day — 7 November 2026: Fuel prices rose again on 2 November. Those who set the price, and those who promise to cut it, should both show the cost and tax line by line.