Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), expressed that the National People’s Power (NPP) should be entrusted with greater responsibility in the upcoming local government elections. His statement comes in the context of the NPP’s recent success in the presidential election, where the party received a clear mandate from the people.
Kariyawasam emphasized that democracy entails respecting the will of the majority. “Since the people have placed their trust in the National People’s Power, they should be allowed to continue working in local government as well,” he stated, highlighting the importance of aligning local governance with the national mandate.
However, he also acknowledged that there are segments of the population who do not support the NPP. In light of this, Kariyawasam affirmed that the SLPP will actively participate in the upcoming local government elections to represent those who disagree with the policies and leadership of the NPP, particularly those led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
He further pointed out that when considering the votes of those who opposed the NPP in the presidential election, along with those who abstained from voting, it becomes evident that a substantial portion of the population did not endorse the NPP. “When you add up the people who voted against the NPP and those who didn’t go to the polls, the majority is still there,” Kariyawasam remarked, implying that the political landscape remains divided and competitive.
The SLPP is thus gearing up to provide a robust alternative to the NPP in local governance, aiming to ensure representation for all segments of the electorate.
