Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today accused the government of using the newly introduced Praja Shakthi programme as a political tool to expand what he described as JVP-led control across grassroots structures.

Speaking at a joint media briefing held by opposition parties, Premadasa said the government promotes Praja Shakthi as a poverty alleviation and village development initiative, but the funding allocated is insufficient for such objectives. Instead, he alleged that the government is imposing higher tax burdens on the public while diverting state mechanisms to strengthen the JVP’s organisational network.

He claimed the programme functions not as a social welfare initiative but as a mechanism to transfer authority from elected representatives to JVP-aligned grassroots cadres. According to Premadasa, this would allow the party to influence Grama Niladhari divisions and local community structures from its headquarters, bypassing democratic accountability.

Premadasa further alleged that youth groups, civil security committees and legally registered community organisations are being gradually placed under a single centralised structure aligned with the JVP. He warned that even the composition of caste-based committees could soon fall under political influence.

He described the initiative as an emerging “constitutional authoritarian model” led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and argued it threatens democratic space and public representation. The Opposition Leader said the opposition firmly rejects the programme in its present form and will not allow the erosion of democratic freedoms.

Premadasa added that the opposition is prepared to unite to defeat what he called an authoritarian project and to restructure Praja Shakthi as an inclusive programme that empowers all communities irrespective of ethnicity, religion, caste or political affiliation.

Around 27 opposition MPs have signed a petition urging the government to immediately withdraw the circular issued in relation to the programme. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted for the execution of the “Praja Shakthi” programme as a consolidated programme to achieve the new government’s policy declaration on the eradication of poverty in Sri Lanka. 

The government states that 01 in every 06 individuals in the total population of Sri Lanka at present experiences multidimensional poverty and 95.3% of that population are living in rural and estate environments. 

According to the government, none of the parties are satisfied with the outcomes of any of the programmes to eradicate poverty executed in Sri Lanka, up until now, where the matter is being probed.

During the past few decades, the number of poverty eradication relief programmes and the number of beneficiaries have escalated, while the amounts spent on them have been hiked. 

By the year 2000, the number of beneficiaries was 1.10 million whereas by the year 2010, the amount had hiked up to 1.57 million and by the year 2024, the amount had further swelled up to 1.79 million, it said. 

The government pointed out that since the continuation of this situation for extended periods, a well-planned programme should be implemented to direct the vulnerable groups/communities to a formal social security programme and utilize the others as active stakeholders in the economic process. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to implement the “Praja Shakthi” programme as a consolidated programme with a multiple approach.

The programme will be implemented so that the vision of ‘Pohosath Ratak – Surakshitha Jeewithayak’ (A wealthy country – secure life) can be achieved as per the policy declaration of the new government. (Newswire)

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