Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa on Tuesday challenged the government to hold Provincial Council elections, insisting that the opposition is ready to face any poll at any time.
Rajapaksa said the government was mistaken if it believed it could win elections by suppressing the opposition, marginalising the Buddhist clergy, undermining the country’s culture and making policy decisions to suit the diaspora.
“If the government has confidence, it should stop making excuses and hold Provincial Council elections just as it held the local government polls. Then the people will have the opportunity to clearly express their mandate and see where the government truly stands,” he told reporters.
He said the SLPP was prepared to contest any election and accused the government of resorting to political rhetoric instead of allowing the public to decide through the ballot.
Rajapaksa also criticised the government’s handling of investigations linked to past administrations, claiming that files had been deliberately concealed during the previous ‘good governance’ period and that those responsible should be questioned.
He alleged that state institutions, including the police, were being used to validate false accusations made for political gain, adding that certain officials had been promoted to serve political interests.
Commenting on religious affairs, Rajapaksa accused the government of disrespecting the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders, referring to recent incidents linked to the protection of a Buddha statue in Trincomalee, where monks were reportedly remanded despite earlier assurances of police protection.
He further said the government had failed to deliver on promises made to the country’s youth, arguing that young people were misled ahead of the last election.
Rajapaksa said the SLPP was engaging with young people through its youth platform, the Lotus Movement, to understand their aspirations and expectations and to strengthen the party’s future political direction.
“The people of this country — young and old — now clearly understand that this government has failed to fulfil its promises. As those falsehoods are exposed one by one, the government reacts with complaints and excuses,” he said.
Reiterating his call for elections, Rajapaksa said the opposition had no fear of questions or scrutiny and was ready to face the people at any time through a democratic process. (Newswire)