Govt. heading for one-party rule, let’s defeat it: Sajith

Criticises govt’s economic performance, claims that poverty has increased by 50%  

By Yohan Perera

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has requested all the opposition parties to unite in resisting what he describes as a growing effort by the current regime to establish a one-party system in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the (Gamin Gamata) programme held in Anuradhapura over the weekend, Premadasa alleged that the government is attempting to monopolise grassroots institutions by appointing members of the National People’s Power (NPP) to key community committees.

“The regime is working to appoint NPP loyalists even to village-level death donation committees,” he said. “They are also being placed in civil defence committees, agrarian committees, and fishermen’s associations. Civil defence committees are meant to ensure the safety of the public, and all political parties should have representation. However, the NPP’s local politicians are the ones compiling the membership lists, excluding others.”

Premadasa warned that this approach paves the way for authoritarianism. “We cannot allow the current administration to build a one-party state. All opposition forces must come together to defeat this agenda,” he urged.

The Opposition Leader also criticised the government’s economic performance, claiming that poverty has increased by 50% during its first year in office.

“The government promised fair prices for farmers’ crops, including a stable price of Rs. 120 for paddy. But this promise remains unfulfilled. In the past, farmers in the North Central Province used to cultivate chillies, but now they can’t afford seeds or inputs due to rising costs,” he said. “It’s not just the farmers—public servants too are being pushed into hardship.”

Premadasa further accused the government of failing to negotiate a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based on an updated debt sustainability analysis. “They are merely continuing the debt restructuring plan initiated by the previous regime, rather than delivering on their own pledges,” he stated.

He concluded by calling for the immediate holding of Provincial Council Elections, asserting that the public deserves the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the government through the ballot box.