By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

Colombi, April 25 – 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, but they do have genuine grievances against the government.

The opposition occasionally bring no-confidence motions against ministers (despite knowing that defeat is certain) and deliver fiery speeches. But they lack any substantial political strategy against the government.

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 that the ruling party will face a massive decline in any upcoming election, the opposition parties have been demanding that the government conduct Provincial Council elections swiftly.

But 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 is to demonstrate that the government is losing its popular mandate.

The NPP government, which promised 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.

While it is clear the government has no immediate intention of holding these elections, the opposition lacks the strength to organize any protest movement to exert pressure. Some Tamil parties occasionally announce plans for mass protests to demand provincial elections, only to forget them within days.

Thus, 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 last Thursday 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 are 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 cannot plan and execute irregularities like the purchase of substandard coal alone; it could not have happened without the full support of the Cabinet. Therefore, we demand the government resign,” Peiris stated.

Meanwhile, speaking at an event at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) headquarters last week, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed they have a “major plan” to regain power in the New Year and that the party is fully prepared for an imminent political change.

Rajapaksa did not elaborate. 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—not just in Sri Lanka, but in South Asia—to be toppled by a popular mass uprising.

The NPP cannot be defeated in Parliament. The old tactic of “buying” MPs to weaken the government is not feasible. The government cannot be toppled simply by “troubles” created within the legislature.

During the national elections, the NPP showered the public with promises without much regard for feasibility. While the government was struggling to fulfil them, events like the ‘Ditwa’ cyclone late last year and the Middle East war starting in April this year served as a “blessing in disguise” for the beleaguered government. The 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. It is true that some corruption allegations are significant enough to make the government struggle to defend itself. Abd the opposition parties are doing their utmost to damage the “. clean ” brand of the NPP government.

To add to its problems the government has to use the old corrupt state machinery, that served previous rulers. Allegations of irregularities must be viewed in this context also.

END