Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for collective efforts to uphold justice, protect people's rights and build a prosperous Sri Lanka, in his Deepavali message.

He stated that the festival's message of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil was particularly relevant amid the country's current socio-economic challenges.

Premadasa also urged people to draw inspiration from Deepavali to build a nation founded on religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity.