Sajith slams NPP Govt. for deception

 SJB leader Sajith Premadasa gestures at his party’s May Day rally yesterday 

in Talawakelle. 

• Calls for rural and worker empowerment at SJB May Day rally in Talawakelle 
• Alleges Govt.’s failure to deliver on promises
• Cites rising crime rate, lack of national security 
• Predicts landslide win for SJB at upcoming LG Elections, urging voters to respond at ballot box
• SJB MP Nalin Bandara defends rally location, noting they honour tea estate workers who help generate forex 
• Criticises expensive NPP rally at Galle Face, citing large crowds don’t translate to votes, drawing parallels to past SLPP rallies
• MP Palani Digambaram claims NPP’s maiden Budget neglected estate workers, calling voters to reject Govt. at LG polls

Main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday launched a scathing critique of the National People’s Power (NPP)-led Government of resorting to deception and propaganda, in a desperate bid to sway public opinion ahead of the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections on 6 May. 

Speaking at the SJB’s May Day rally held in Talawakelle under the theme “Workers’ Power in the Battle to Win the Village,” he described it as a call for working-class empowerment and rural revitalisation.

He charged that the Government had not only failed to deliver on key promises, but was now attempting to mislead the public and manipulate the electoral process to cover up its shortcomings.

“The Government is going all out spreading lies in the run-up to the LG polls on 6 May. But we must tell Anura and his administration—the SJB will secure a landslide victory,” Premadasa declared.

He accused the NPP of attempting to frame individuals for political gain and challenged the Government’s record on key campaign promises, including pledges to provide fuel at landing cost, employ 35,000 graduates, and launch a comprehensive poverty alleviation program.

“What have they delivered? Nothing but empty words—a bag full of lies,” he said. 

Premadasa also raised concerns over rising crime and deteriorating national security, citing increased shootings countrywide.

“People are being shot in their homes and even inside courtrooms. This is their record on security,” he claimed.

He emphasised that the NPP-led Government could not even provide salt, despite being surrounded by the sea.

He called on the public to respond at the ballot box on 6 May. “The best answer to these lies will come from the people voting for the SJB,” Premadasa stressed.

SJB MP Nalin Bandara defended the party’s decision to host its rally in Talawakelle, noting the significance of the region’s tea estate workers to the national economy.

“Many ask why we chose Talawakelle. It’s because we wanted to honour the heart of Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange—our tea industry—which is powered by the workers here.”

He drew comparisons to past rallies by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at the Galle Face Green, claiming that just as those crowds didn’t translate to votes, the NPP’s rally won’t either.

“Anura may have spent millions to fill Galle Face, just like the SLPP once did — but it’s the telephone symbol that will fill the ballot boxes in the upcoming LG polls,” Bandara stressed.

SJB MP Palani Digambaram criticised the NPP’s treatment of hill country communities, stating that the Government’s maiden Budget neglected the region.

“If Sajith Premadasa had been elected President, the lives of hill country people would be vastly different today. This Government hasn’t given them any real support.”

He urged voters in the estate sector to reject the NPP in the upcoming election.