Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage claims his controversial alliance with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was driven by a duty to uphold public conscience, not party loyalty, during the formation of the Galle Municipal Council.
Minister Nalin has publicly defended his decision to align with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), commonly known as “Pohottuwa,” during the recent formation of the Galle Municipal Council. Speaking on national television, Hewage stated that his decision was driven by a “matter of public conscience” rather than political ambition.
According to Hewage, the support of the SLPP was essential to establishing a functioning municipal council in Galle. Without that backing, he argued, the formation of the council would have stalled, creating a governance vacuum and a breakdown in public trust. He emphasized that ensuring administrative stability and respecting the electoral will of the people outweighed party allegiances in this case.
“This was not about crossing party lines for power, it was about preventing a collapse of local governance that would have gone against the conscience and expectations of the public,” he said.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from both political analysts and constituents, with some praising the decision as pragmatic and others viewing it as a compromise of political integrity. Still, Hewage maintains that his primary concern was upholding institutional responsibility in Galle, and he remains confident that time will validate his actions.
The incident highlights the increasing fluidity of party politics at the local level in Sri Lanka, where coalition-building and power-sharing are becoming crucial elements of council formation amid shifting voter loyalties.
