Provincial Council Elections Unlikely Under This Government: Rajitha Senaratne

29-Dec-2025

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Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated that there is no possibility of the current government holding Provincial Council elections during its term.

Speaking at a media briefing in Kalutara on Dec 27, he said that even if elections were held, the government would fail to win control of a single provincial council. He added that the government has no solutions to the crises it faces.

Senaratne stressed that no authority has the right to ban media institutions simply because they criticize politicians, noting that only authoritarian regimes suppress the media. He recalled that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe repealed criminal defamation laws in 2002 to strengthen media freedom.

He warned that attempts to roll back these freedoms would only accelerate the government’s downfall, not the destruction of the media. He also highlighted shortages of essential medicines in major hospitals, accusing the government of prioritizing media suppression over public welfare.

Senaratne said that despite initial cooperation from opposition parties, it has become evident that the government cannot continue on its current path. He noted the absence of development projects even at the local government level after more than a year in power.

He dismissed speculation that Ranil Wickremesinghe would return to Parliament, stating that Wickremesinghe would only do so if it benefited the country, which he questioned under the current administration.