Colombo – Dilith Jayaweera, the presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance, has raised alarms over what he perceives as deliberate attempts to weaken Sri Lanka’s armed forces. At a press conference on September 5, Jayaweera criticized several presidential candidates for including policies in their manifestos that he believes would diminish the strength of the military.
Jayaweera expressed concern that these policies reflect a broader trend towards neglecting national security. “I’ve noticed that many major policy statements from the main presidential candidates include plans to allow the military to deteriorate without proper oversight,” he said. He criticized this approach as a “disease” that undermines the nation’s defense capabilities.
He questioned the rationale behind such policies and suggested that if budgetary constraints are a concern, the government should reduce expenditures on politicians rather than compromising national security. “If costs are too high, just cut the expenditure on politicians,” he proposed.
Jayaweera also accused political factions, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), of contributing to the weakening of the armed forces. “On what scientific basis are you talking about weakening the military?” he demanded, expressing skepticism about the motivations of various political actors.
He further noted the absence of vocal support from Buddhist monks, attributing this silence to backlash from social media. “This must be stopped. We must show our true power,” Jayaweera concluded, emphasizing the need to protect and strengthen the country’s military forces.
