Minister Vijitha Herath has sparked political debate by asserting that the National People’s Power (NPP) refrained from misusing state resources during the recent elections despite holding government power.
Speaking at a public rally, Herath declared that the NPP had broken away from past traditions of state-sponsored election abuse. “We had state power, but we never used government property for political gain,” he said. “We acted democratically, without violence or misuse setting a new standard in Sri Lankan politics.”
Herath described this approach as a turning point for the country’s political culture, contrasting it with previous regimes often accused of using state machinery to manipulate election outcomes.
He acknowledged that the NPP emerged as the leading force in the recent local government elections, but said that the fragmented nature of council memberships means that power cannot be seized outright. Instead, the NPP is working to form coalitions with smaller parties and independent groups to secure control of local councils.
“Several independent factions are already preparing to align with the NPP to form majorities in the villages,” he revealed. “By joining forces, we will establish our leadership in more local authorities where we didn’t initially have an outright majority.”
Herath’s remarks come at a time when the NPP is positioning itself not only as a political alternative, but as a party that leads by example especially in how it handles power. His message was clear: real power doesn’t come from abuse it comes from restraint, transparency, and collaboration.
