Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, has reportedly been instructed by her party to refrain from speaking to the media.
During the “Clean Sri Lanka” program held in Keselwattala, Kottahachchi was approached by journalists for a statement. However, she responded by saying, “I am sorry… I cannot express any views to the media as I have been instructed by the party not to speak to the media.”
The decision to silence the MP is believed to be linked to recent controversial remarks she made in public. In December 2024, Kottahachchi sparked criticism when she stated that people have the “complete right to convince any truth as a lie and any lie as a truth,” calling it a democratic right. The statement was widely condemned, including by fellow NPP member Wasantha Samarasinghe, who countered that encouraging society to accept lies as truth is unethical.
Adding to the controversy, Kottahachchi recently filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over defamatory allegations circulating on social media. This led to the arrest of former Millaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Raveendra Rammuni, who is accused of sharing defamatory statements about her.
Despite the media ban, Kottahachchi later took to social media to express her disappointment, calling reports of her being silenced by the party “false and irresponsible media reporting” by the Daily Mirror newspaper.
This unfolding situation highlights the challenges of political communication in Sri Lanka, as parties navigate internal disputes and public scrutiny.
Probably a good thing that she does not speak to the media … perhaps even does not speak at all. Her brain and mouth have been out of sync for quite a while now.