• Claims Government dismantling public admin service structure 

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said that a Government cannot function without a professional, efficient, and honest public service, warning the present Government appears to be weakening what remains of Sri Lanka’s public administration.

Issuing a statement, she said that political leaders do not necessarily need long years of experience or technical expertise if they possess unshakeable integrity, noting that in a functioning democracy, elected leaders depend heavily on a capable and professional public service to govern effectively. However, she alleged that the current administration seems determined to dismantle the existing public service structure and replace it with party members and supporters who lack the required qualifications and experience.

Referring to the aragalaya protests (movement that sought a political system change and resulted in the resignation of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his administration), Kumaratunga said that the uprising occurred because the people became acutely aware of how badly governance had deteriorated, adding that political awareness among citizens remains high. She said that the country is still reeling from the damage caused by two decades of poor governance and warned that Sri Lanka could descend into total chaos if the current approach to governance is not changed. She added that the responsibility now lies with the people, stressing that citizens must actively question those in power, understand the serious consequences of continued mis-governance, and make democratic choices on how to rebuild the nation. “If this present mode of governance continues unchanged, our country risks sliding further into chaos, and only an informed and questioning public can decide how we rebuild our great nation,” she said.