President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has accused the opposition of building a united front against his administration in a desperate attempt to protect themselves from accountability for past corruption, fraud, and crimes. Speaking to the Sri Lankan diaspora in Germany yesterday, the President alleged that an unlikely alliance between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), and independent political groups was being orchestrated purely out of self-preservation.
“They are not uniting for the sake of the people, but to shield themselves from the investigations we have launched,” the President said. “Whether they are from the SLPP or the SJB, it does not concern us. If they have committed crimes or fraud, the investigations have already begun and no matter what alliances they form, we will not let these investigations be buried.”
Highlighting what he described as a striking example of political manipulation, President Dissanayake pointed to the recent appointment of the chairman of the Kuliyapitiya local council. Despite the NPP holding 21 seats compared to just six held by the SLPP, the chairmanship ended up with the SLPP an outcome he attributes to backroom deals struck between the SJB, UNP, SLPP, and independent factions.
“This is how they operate. In council after council, those who once stood on opposing sides are now joining hands not because of shared ideology, but because of shared guilt,” the President remarked. “This is the first time in our country that we are witnessing such a clear division in politics a realignment, not based on principles, but on fear of being exposed.”
He cited a media appearance where Tissa Attanayake of the SJB, Thalatha Atukorale of the UNP, and a representative from the SLPP appeared together, raising eyebrows across the political landscape. “What is the common ground between these individuals?” the President asked. “It is not policy, not vision it is the fear of being held accountable.”
Dissanayake warned that this opportunistic coalition poses a threat to the political integrity of the country. “In the long term, this alliance will damage both Namal Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa. But in the short term, they see survival in unity. That is the only reason this alliance exists.”
He also questioned the practicality of this unity in a political sense. “How will they run in the upcoming Presidential election? Can they have two candidates while being in one political camp? Clearly not. They have essentially become one front united not by ideology, but by the desire to undermine the mandate the people gave to us.”
The President reaffirmed that the National People’s Power (NPP) government would not back down on any of the investigations currently underway. “The people gave us a mandate not just to govern, but to transform this country. And we intend to honour that mandate, no matter how strong the resistance.”
Reflecting on the broader change in political culture, the President said that for the first time, Sri Lanka has a government whose goals are fully aligned with those of its citizens.
“In the past, rulers had one set of expectations and the people another. But today, our aspirations are the same. You want to end corruption we do too. You want justice for criminal acts we agree. You want the rule of law to prevail we will uphold it. You want a better economy we’re committed to achieving that,” he said.
He concluded by asserting that the unity between the government and the people represents the foundation of a new era in Sri Lankan politics.
“The people and the government are no longer separate. We are united in purpose, and that is the governance model we are building in Sri Lanka.”
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