• Prioritise 2nd tier leadership comprised of new candidates: SJS candidate  

The National People's Party (NPP) expressed concerns about the potential dangers of granting any party an absolute majority in the Parliament, arguing that such power could undermine the country’s democratic governance. Instead, the Party emphasised the importance of electing a strong opposition that can effectively safeguard the rights of the people.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (8), NPP Leader, President’s Counsel Srinath Perera, also stated that his Party will contest the upcoming General Election independently, without aligning itself with any major right-wing alliances. Perera was critical of traditional right-wing parties, asserting that these parties, including the United National Party (UNP), have been rejected by the people. He remarked that the right-wing camp now requires a new force to defend its values. "Almost all the traditional right-wing parties, including the UNP, have lost the people's trust. Therefore, the country needs a new political force to uphold and defend democratic values. Neither the Samagi Jana Balawegaya nor any other party seems capable of fulfilling the people's demands," Perera claimed.

He further clarified that the NPP is prepared to work with any government, supporting good governance while opposing policies that deviate from these principles. “We will not form alliances for personal or political gain. Instead, we will remain in the opposition, monitoring the Government's actions. History has shown that absolute power tends to corrupt. Therefore, no government should be given overwhelming control in the Parliament. The people must ensure that there is a strong opposition in place to defend their rights," he added.

Meanwhile, according to the People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA), Sri Lanka has given governing powers to a party that has not held such powers before and that therefore, that decision needs to be supported by an opposition party with alternative solutions to the country’s issues and one which challenges the Government. 

Noting that the country has given power to new political parties in the past seeking a system change and that such decisions did not bear fruit due to the non-existence of a strong and well-organised opposition party, the PSA’s National Executive Member and, recent Presidential candidate attorney-at-law Nuwan Bopage told the media that the combination of a new Government and an opposition party with similar policies has been proven to be ineffective and harmful to the country. He added that the election of a capable and strong opposition party through the upcoming Election is therefore crucial. 

“In this context, we request the change seeking people to understand that the existence of a governing party is not adequate and that another key reason behind the crisis that you faced is the non-existence of an opposition party that challenges the governing party,” he opined, adding that in order to achieve the change that the people seek, changing the nature of the opposition is also necessary. During the press briefing, Bopage opined that in a context where the Government appears to be ready to continue the policies of previous Governments, the people should elect a strong alternative force to guide the Government to adopt better approaches. 

Also, instead of mere promises and vague plans, Sri Lanka should prepare a roadmap which clearly specifies solutions to the country’s pressing issues and the parties responsible for the implementation of those solutions targeting the upcoming General Election, Samagi Jana Sandhanaya (SJS) Election candidate and specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa claimed. 

Speaking to the media, he emphasised that the people have to fulfil the common responsibility of electing candidates with such a plan in the General Election and give opportunities to newer candidates to create a second-tier leadership. He added that in a context where political groups that governed the country in the past have made mistakes, there is now a second-tier leadership being created and that that group is centred round Colombo. To achieve the change sought by the people, he added that leadership should receive power in the General Election. 

“Irrespective of differences such as being Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim, we are confident that the people of all electoral areas will send to the Parliament new faces in the upcoming General Election,” he said, adding that it will make it possible to continue in the Parliament the people’s struggle for change that began outside the Parliament.