Two Years of Government Have Brought No Glory to the People: Sajith

08-Sep-2026

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as to why a referendum had been demanded for the 20th Amendment when he was in the Opposition, but was not considered necessary for the 22nd Amendment.

He also said that the Government’s two years in office had brought no benefits or glory to the people, but rather benefits to the ministers of the Government.

He made these remarks while addressing the founding meeting of the United Women’s Force in the Rattota electorate on September 6.

He said the independence of the judiciary would be undermined and the rule of law further weakened through the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

“At a time when the rule of law has already weakened due to daily shooting incidents, the 22nd Amendment could result in its complete erosion,” he said.

Premadasa said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while in the Opposition, had argued that a referendum in addition to a two-thirds majority in Parliament was necessary when the then Government introduced the 20th Amendment.

However, he said members of the present Government were now claiming that a referendum was unnecessary.

“If a referendum was demanded for the 20th Amendment then, why should a similar referendum not be necessary for the 22nd Amendment?” he asked.

He alleged that the present Government was inhumane, violated human rights, failed to recognise the sovereignty of the people and did not respect the independence of the judiciary.

He claimed that the Government’s alleged authoritarian approach had begun with the youth council elections and Civil Security Committee elections.

He accused the Government of undermining democracy by appointing members according to a list prepared in Pelawatte and alleged that it was attempting to deprive people of their rights and establish an authoritarian one-party rule.

Premadasa also criticised the President’s ongoing public rallies, alleging that they were being used to make further false promises.

“If the Government genuinely wants to know the people’s position, I challenge the President to stop holding rallies and conduct the Provincial Council elections,” he said.

He also claimed that police had informed fishermen who had gone to sea that they would not be able to enter the Beruwala Fisheries Harbour due to the President’s rally in Beruwala the previous day.

“The President has even been unable to hold rallies without causing inconvenience to fishermen,” he alleged.

Premadasa further accused the JVP-led Government of being based on authoritarianism, repression, harassment and the curtailment of rights.

He said the Government was increasing, rather than alleviating, the hardships faced by the people and alleged that its election promises had been forgotten.

Instead of undertaking constructive programmes for the country, he said, the Government was conducting a series of rallies to mark its two years in office.

Although the theme of the Government’s rallies was “Our Government – Two Years in Office, Glory to the Country”, he said relief promised to people displaced by Cyclone Ditwah had still not been provided.

He also alleged that the Government had failed to fulfil promises such as providing fuel at import-parity prices and reducing electricity tariffs by 32 per cent, while placing an unbearable burden on the people.

“At present, there is a severe shortage of medicines, and people have to wait in queues even for urgent surgeries. Is this what is meant by glory to the country?” he asked.

“These two years may have become a period of glory for the President and the Government, but not for the country,” he said.