Opposition political parties have begun calling for the resignation of the National People’s Power (NPP) Government, which holds a more than two-thirds majority in Parliament, within just a year and a half of its term.
These parties, calling themselves the ‘joint Opposition,’ are currently significantly weakened. Aside from occasionally bringing no-confidence motions against ministers (despite knowing it means certain defeat) and delivering fiery speeches in Parliament, they lack any substantial political strategy against the Government. However, they continue to hold frequent joint press conferences in Colombo.
In the May 2025 Local Government Elections, the NPP received approximately 1.8 million fewer votes nationwide than it did in the 2024 Parliamentary Elections. Hoping the ruling party would face a massive decline in any upcoming election, these Opposition parties have been demanding that the Government conduct Provincial Council Elections swiftly.
It cannot be said that this demand stems from a genuine concern for democratic rights or the fact that provincial administrations have been without elected representatives for eight years. Rather, the goal of these parties is to demonstrate that the Government is losing its public mandate.
The NPP Government, which promised during national elections to hold Provincial Council Elections within a year of taking office, recently appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee to determine the electoral system under which these polls should be held. After meeting three times, the committee’s next meeting has been postponed indefinitely.
A weak Opposition
While it is clear the Government has no immediate intention of holding these elections, the Opposition lacks the strength to organise any protest movement to exert pressure. On the other hand, some Tamil parties occasionally announce plans for mass protests to demand provincial elections, only to forget them within days. In truth, there is no significant pressure on the Government regarding this issue, either from the north and east or from southern Sri Lanka.
Currently, southern Opposition parties have begun demanding that the Government resign and clear the path for an interim general election. Speaking at a press conference recently joined by the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sarvajana Balaya, and others, former Minister Professor G.L. Peiris insisted that the Government must step down.
“We have been seeing various scams over the past few weeks, including the import of substandard coal and the misappropriation of Treasury funds via cyber hacking. The Government has clearly demonstrated its incompetence. A single minister alone cannot plan and execute irregularities like the purchase of substandard coal; it could not have happened without the full support of the Cabinet. Therefore, we demand the Government’s resignation,” Peiris stated.
Meanwhile, speaking at an event at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Headquarters recently, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed they had a “major plan” to regain power in the new year and that the party was fully prepared for an imminent political change.
Rajapaksa did not elaborate on this plan. It may be difficult for the Rajapaksa family to remain out of power for long, but why would the people want that family back in power? For decades, certain elite families dominated Sri Lankan politics, and the people eventually defeated them at the polls. However, the Rajapaksas must not forget that theirs was the first administration in Sri Lanka to be toppled by a popular mass uprising.
The NPP cannot be defeated in Parliament. Therefore, the old tactic of ‘buying’ MPs to weaken the Government is not feasible. Consequently, the Government cannot be toppled simply by ‘troubles’ created within the Legislature.
NPP Govt.’s crisis
During national elections, the NPP showered the public with promises without much regard for practical feasibility. While the Government was struggling to fulfil these pledges, events like Cyclone Ditwah late last year and the Middle East war starting early this year served as a ‘blessing in disguise’. The resulting global economic crisis has provided the Government with a convenient excuse for failing to keep its promises.
The talk of a ‘new political culture’ and ‘system change’ has vanished into thin air. If any change has occurred, it is merely that the Government has adapted itself to the pre-existing system.
The NPP Government, brought to power by a shift in the political landscape triggered by a mass uprising against the corrupt governance of the traditional political elite, must remain highly vigilant against corruption and abuse of power.
However, the Government faces a crisis because it must manage the administration using the same corrupt State machinery that served previous rulers. Recent allegations of irregularities must be viewed in this context.
Opposition parties are doing their utmost to damage the ‘clean’ brand of the NPP Government. It is true that some allegations of corruption are significant enough to make the Government struggle to defend itself.
(The writer is a senior journalist based in Colombo)
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this publication)