Sarvajana Balaya leader and MP Dilith Jayaweera says he has turned down invitations to form power in several local government bodies where no party has secured a clear majority, including overtures from the National People’s Power (NPP) itself.
Speaking during a discussion on an online channel, Jayaweera revealed that his party had been approached to form coalitions in hung councils, where alliances would be necessary to form administrations. Among those who reached out, he said, was the NPP.
However, he made it clear that he rejected these proposals. “They called me,” Jayaweera said with a wry smile, “but I told them it wouldn’t look good for them to lose power after joining with an ‘antigen thief’ like me.”
His tongue-in-cheek reference to the “antigen thief” label was a jab at allegations previously thrown at him, a phrase that has since become part of his political identity, often wielded sarcastically in his public appearances.
Jayaweera’s remarks struck a balance between humor and pointed commentary, hinting at the cautious political calculations being made across parties in the aftermath of tightly contested local elections. He positioned himself as both self-aware and principled, claiming that his refusal to join hands was as much about integrity as it was about optics.
By declining the invitations, he said, he was not only avoiding controversy for his party, but also sparing the NPP from having to explain a partnership that could damage their anti-corruption stance. The underlying message was clear: political alliances, especially with controversial figures, come with a price.
Whether his comments were a deflection or a demonstration of political maturity remains up for debate. But for now, Jayaweera stands apart—rejected by some, invited by others, and still shaping the conversation from the sidelines.
