SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa criticizes the government for missing diplomatic opportunities, claiming that if President Dissanayake had accepted the BRICS summit invitation, Sri Lanka could have secured Russian oil before the Deputy Minister’s recent visit, while also accusing the administration of burdening citizens with losses from substandard coal imports.
SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa asserted that the President could have secured oil more easily if he had taken up the invitation to attend the BRICS summit. “That window was missed. Otherwise, we would have locked in Russian oil before their Deputy Minister even set foot here. A man has to strike when the iron is hot,” he declared.
Speaking at the SLPP headquarters in Nelum Mawatha, Rajapaksa outlined the party’s reorganization efforts, emphasizing that district organizers are being deployed to carry the party’s ideology to the grassroots and listen to the people in every village.
He accused the government of forcing ordinary citizens to bear the losses from its own reckless decisions. “The government is saddling the people with the losses from substandard coal imports. They told us to stay calm, claiming there was fuel for 45 days. Now they are buying fuel at rates above the global market, and guess who’s paying for that loss? The people. The President himself once said there was a trillion rupees sitting in the treasury. Now nobody dares to mention that trillion,” he said.
Rajapaksa also slammed the government’s handling of cyclone relief, claiming that checks issued to those who lost their homes were either returned or bounced. He warned that the government is deliberately gutting agriculture, choosing to import food instead of strengthening local farmers. “There’s a fertilizer crisis brewing on one side, and on the other, food security and prices are spiraling out of control. The government needs to step up now. Don’t come later saying there’s plenty of food for the opposition to eat. That won’t cut it.”
He argued that relying on imports is no longer a viable strategy in a world gripped by conflict. “The government must move immediately to reinforce our farmers. A man doesn’t wait until the roof caves in to fix the foundation.”
On the opposition’s conduct, Rajapaksa noted that while the JVP had a history of disruption, today’s opposition is not playing that game. “The JVP is now in power, and they’re still running the same playbook. A minister has been indicted in the coal scandal. If charges are filed, a man faces his responsibility. He doesn’t sit on other tenders pretending nothing happened. This government came to power shouting from the rooftops that they were clean. Now let them prove it.”
He also criticized the government for suppressing dissent and creating chaos in foreign policy. “We saw a submarine attack. The President gave one story, the Ambassador gave another. Maybe they can’t find the truth because they’ve gutted our intelligence agencies. When you lock up the head of intelligence, what do you expect? If they can’t handle the job, they should be man enough to ask for help. Go ask Sajith Premadasa. Go ask Ranil Wickremesinghe. No shame in admitting you need guidance.”
Rajapaksa returned to his central point, stating that the President should have taken the BRICS invitation seriously. “That opportunity was there for the taking. If he had gone, we would have locked in Russian oil before their Deputy Minister even arrived. A man has to know when to move. Hesitate, and the people pay the price. But even if it’s late, we’re glad they finally got it done.”
He accused the government of simply recycling old policies from previous administrations, including QR codes and price hikes. “I see ministers lecturing people about washing machines. They’ve issued a whole circus of instructions. Same old song, different singers.”
Rajapaksa declared that the SLPP is ready for any election, but will not stoop to the kind of politics where fuel bowsers vanished into thin air, as confirmed by audit reports. “We play straight. We operate within a democratic framework. No dirty tricks. That’s not how we do business.”
He noted that he has already requested a parliamentary committee to investigate USAID expenditures, but the Speaker has yet to respond. “This has been talked about internationally. It was raised in Parliament. During our time, we had the backbone to appoint a Presidential Commission to dig into these matters. If this is swept under the rug, another leader, another government, maybe even this government, will face the same crisis down the line.”
Regarding future elections, Rajapaksa said the party will decide how to contest when the dates are set, after consulting with allied parties. He concluded that the people have now seen through the government’s lies. “They understand the incompetence. They see the broken promises. Now they’re using independent institutions as their political machinery. That’s why the Police Chief has become the Police Chief of the Malimawa. They’re leaning on people to make statements, to fabricate affidavits. That’s the game now.”
On social media activists, Rajapaksa said he sees nothing wrong with them taking money from any party. “It’s a business. A man has to make a living. Those doing business with the government do business with the government. But whether they pay taxes, whether they declare it, that’s another matter. Anyone can buy an ad from any party. Those who went to Pelawatta are in that business. But a man listens with his own mind. Whatever they say, you have to keep your head and think for yourself.”
