Nuwara Eliya District MP Palani Digambaram claims Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa loses elections because he refuses to lie, accusing the government of winning power through deception, political doublespeak, and internal division.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa keeps losing elections because he refuses to lie, according to Deputy Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance and Nuwara Eliya District MP Palani Digambaram. He made the remarks on the 10th while addressing the media after presenting appointment letters to the newly elected leaders of the Workers’ National Front and the Workers’ National Union Youth Congress at the Ajanta Hotel in Hatton.
Digambaram said the opposition is strengthening and remains vigilant about the policies of the government, but has no intention of destabilizing it immediately. “We will let the government run for a year or a year and a half and then we will take a decision. We are not trying to pull the government by the legs right now,” he explained.
He accused government members of outright lies, adding that when public approval drops, the President regains it through speeches in Parliament, while ministers contradict themselves within hours. As an example, he cited how those in power accused the former President’s son of launching a satellite with public funds in collaboration with China, only to later deny it, with the Prime Minister even claiming the project would generate income.
According to Digambaram, the ruling coalition is split between the Compass and JVP factions. “You can tell any lie you want when you are in opposition, but you can’t after coming to power,” he said, claiming the government is run based on the views of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe rather than the JVP.
He likened Sri Lankan voters to “soda bottles,” saying they could be stirred into action with false promises a tactic the government allegedly used to win power. “To gain power, you have to lie as much as possible. The opposition leader doesn’t lie. Because he doesn’t lie, he always loses. We have told him to tell a lie or two, but he doesn’t,” Digambaram remarked.
He concluded by noting that although Ranil Wickremesinghe also avoided lying, he managed to revive the collapsed economy. “I think if I am going to do politics, I have to lie,” Digambaram said.
