Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the presidential candidate of the National People's Power, has promised to prioritize the revitalization of the arts if elected. Addressing the current decline in cultural engagement, Dissanayake highlighted the need to restore local cinemas and theaters, which he described as having once thrived but now largely abandoned or repurposed.

AKD aims to make art more accessible and central to daily life, envisioning a society where people eagerly attend movies, plays, and literary events. Despite acknowledging economic challenges, he promised gradual, steady development of cultural infrastructure and support for artists to enrich the nation's cultural landscape.