We Will Not Adopt Double Standards on the 13th Amendment: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa
07-Jun-2026.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the Government of deliberately delaying Provincial Council elections out of fear following the outcome of the local government elections. He also stated that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is prepared to fully implement the 13th Amendment while safeguarding the country's sovereignty, unity and unitary status.
He made these remarks during a special meeting with former Provincial Council members held at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Colombo.
Addressing the gathering, Premadasa said that the Government presents one narrative to the international community through concepts such as "13 Plus" or "13 Minus" while conveying an entirely different message domestically.
He stressed that the SJB would never pursue such a policy and would instead implement the 13th Amendment in its entirety.
Premadasa announced that a national committee would be established to press for the immediate conduct of Provincial Council elections. He rejected claims that Provincial Councils are "white elephants," noting that former Chief Ministers had successfully attracted international investment and rendered valuable service.
He argued that those who dismiss Provincial Councils lack a proper understanding of politics.
Referring to the local government elections held after the General Election, he claimed that the Government had lost approximately 2.3 million votes. According to him, the administration led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is reluctant to hold Provincial Council elections and is unable to face the electorate in rural areas.
Premadasa further urged the public not to grant any political party a two-thirds majority in Parliament, adding that even the SJB does not seek such unrestricted authority. He maintained that a simple majority is sufficient for governance and warned that overwhelming majorities often encourage governments to prioritise self-interest over public welfare.
He concluded by saying that the present Government, which came to power promising to address poverty and hardship, is now enjoying the privileges of office, and urged voters to make informed decisions in future elections.
