At a rally in Kurunegala, SLPP’s Johnston Fernando blasted the current government and called Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 2015 defeat a national tragedy. He warned against legal crackdowns and said the people won’t be fooled again.
Johnston Fernando Declares: Mahinda’s 2015 Defeat Was a Blow to the Nation, Warns Govt Against ‘Fooling the People’ Again
Former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Johnston Fernando has reignited political debate by stating that the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015 was one of the greatest setbacks the nation has ever experienced. Speaking at a well-attended public gathering in Kurunegala, Fernando issued a fiery critique of the current government, accusing it of prioritizing political theatre over real governance.
Fernando reminded the audience that “people’s power is the strongest power in the whole world,” suggesting that the ruling administration’s tactics of using the legal system to suppress opposition will not succeed in the long run.
“If this government thinks it can cling to power by filling prisons and staging court cases, it’s delusional. We’ve seen this playbook before, especially during 2015 to 2019. People are no longer fooled by such stunts. They understand that the government is simply performing for the gallery because it has no real solutions to offer,” he said.
Fernando emphasized that during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure, Sri Lanka saw historic progress achievements he believes have since been undone. “If Mahinda had continued, the country wouldn’t have fallen to this level. His 2015 defeat was a blow to the whole nation,” he stated.
He further alleged that the current leadership is manipulating democratic norms and bending the law to serve their own agenda. According to Fernando, this betrayal of democratic principles will not go unnoticed or unpunished by the public.
“This government talks about law and order, but what they really want is unchecked power. But we are a party that has always stood with the people, and that’s why we can face them without fear,” he added.
Fernando expressed confidence that the public is becoming increasingly aware of the administration’s failures. “The people are finally seeing the truth. I don’t think they will fall for lies anymore. We won’t let history repeat itself.”
As the country inches closer to another election cycle, these remarks reflect growing unrest within opposition ranks and hint at a potential resurgence of pro-Rajapaksa sentiment.
