Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has launched a fierce broadside against the ruling National People's Power (NPP) administration, accusing it of deliberately weaponising state institutions to silence and persecute political opponents. Speaking at the inaugural event of the party's Yukthiya Wenuwen Nagitimu — meaning "Rise Up for Justice" — nationwide seminar series held in Kalutara, Kariyawasam painted a troubling picture of institutional decay under the current government, warning that Sri Lanka's democratic foundations are being systematically eroded.
SLPP Launches Nationwide "Rise Up for Justice" Seminar Campaign
The Kalutara launch marked the beginning of what the SLPP has described as a country-wide awareness campaign aimed at mobilising grassroots support and educating citizens about what the party characterises as dangerous overreach by the NPP government. The seminar series, titled Yukthiya Wenuwen Nagitimu, is expected to roll out across multiple districts in the coming weeks, with senior party officials and former lawmakers scheduled to participate in regional events.
Kariyawasam, a former Member of Parliament and one of the SLPP's most prominent voices, used the platform to deliver one of his most pointed attacks yet on the NPP administration. He alleged that the government is not merely engaging in routine political competition but is instead orchestrating a calculated campaign to neutralise opposition figures through the misuse of law enforcement agencies, investigative bodies, and judicial processes.
Allegations of Weaponising State Institutions
At the heart of Kariyawasam's address was the accusation that state institutions — bodies that are constitutionally mandated to operate independently and serve all citizens equally — have been converted into instruments of political vengeance. He argued that investigations, arrests, and legal proceedings targeting SLPP members and other opposition figures are not driven by genuine concerns for justice or accountability, but are instead politically motivated efforts to destabilise rival parties ahead of future elections.
The SLPP General Secretary contended that this pattern of behaviour represents a fundamental betrayal of the democratic principles the NPP championed during its rise to power. He reminded audiences that the NPP had campaigned extensively on promises of clean governance, institutional independence, and an end to political victimisation — pledges that Kariyawasam now claims have been abandoned entirely in favour of partisan self-interest.
Such allegations of institutional weaponisation are not new in Sri Lankan political discourse, but coming from the SLPP — a party that itself faced significant criticism regarding governance and accountability during its own tenure — they carry a particular weight in the current political climate. The party appears to be repositioning itself as a defender of democratic norms and civil liberties, a strategic rebranding effort that the seminar series seems designed to support.
Institutional Decay at the Core of SLPP's Critique
Beyond the specific accusations of political persecution, Kariyawasam raised broader concerns about what he described as accelerating institutional decay under the NPP government. He argued that independent commissions, law enforcement bodies, and regulatory agencies are being staffed with loyalists and subjected to political direction, undermining their credibility and effectiveness.
This erosion of institutional integrity, the SLPP leader warned, poses a long-term threat to Sri Lanka's democratic governance that extends far beyond any single party or political rivalry. When state institutions lose their independence, he argued, ordinary citizens ultimately bear the heaviest burden — losing access to impartial justice, transparent governance, and protection from arbitrary state power.
Kariyawasam called on civil society organisations, legal professionals, academics, and ordinary voters to take note of these developments and to hold the government accountable through democratic means. He framed the Yukthiya Wenuwen Nagitimu campaign not merely as a partisan political exercise but as a broader civic responsibility to defend constitutional values.
Political Context and Opposition Strategy
The launch of this seminar series signals a more assertive phase in the SLPP's opposition strategy. Having suffered significant setbacks in recent electoral contests, the party appears determined to rebuild its organisational strength at the grassroots level while simultaneously sharpening its ideological critique of the ruling administration.
By framing its campaign around themes of justice, institutional integrity, and democratic accountability, the SLPP is clearly attempting to occupy political ground that resonates with a public that remains deeply sceptical of all major political forces following years of economic crisis and governance failures.
Whether these allegations gain traction with voters will depend significantly on whether the SLPP can demonstrate credibility on issues of institutional reform — a challenge given its own complex political legacy. Nevertheless, the Kalutara launch has signalled that Sri Lanka's political opposition intends to be vocal, organised, and increasingly confrontational in the months ahead, setting the stage for a potentially turbulent period in the country's parliamentary and civic life.