SLPP candidate for Colombo, Milinda Rajapaksa in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that the party may not secure a single seat, but what truly mattered was the kind of politics that the SLPP represents. He said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory is attributed to what the country wanted to hear at the time. Rajapaksa also highlighted that while President Anura Kumara has not yet delivered tangible results, his real challenge now lies in keeping the promises he made prior to the Presidential election.
Q: What is your political vision for Sri Lanka and how does the SLPP fit into that vision?
A: The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has been a central political force in the country, rooted in the nationalist leftist camp and to meet the people’s needs. When the SLPP was founded, the country was in chaos as far as national security was concerned, economic stability and even regarding geopolitical relations. The SLPP is like a modern evolution of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Mahinda Rajapaksa had a vision for a centrist-approach that brought together leftists, right-wing, liberals, capitalists and various political factions such as the EPDP and the JVP. That’s why he won the people’s trust and developed the country. He proved that centrist- politics could work in our country.
My mission aligns with the SLPP’s balanced approach, avoiding extremes. A balanced approach regarding the economy, geopolitics and culture is crucial to me as a politician. What stands out about our party is that it allows us, especially the younger politicians to take a modern approach to the SLPP ideology. I don’t have to rigidly follow what Mahinda Rajapaksa said or former party beliefs. I can present new perspectives and the freedom to branch out and shape the party’s ideology is what I deeply value. That is why I’ve been able to speak progressively or even a bit controversially to the media.
My political journey also reflects this openness. Coming from a small village without a political background, I ran for the post of Colombo Mayor and now I am contesting for a parliamentary seat. The party accepted me based on my work and not my connections. Our core goals remain a prosperous Sri Lanka rooted in liberty, equality and justice.
Q: Can you describe your personal political vision for Sri Lanka?
A: My vision is for a prosperous Sri Lanka that thrives both in terms of people’s well-being and the country’s development. I focus on three key principles: liberty, equality and justice.
The first is liberty, which is essential for personal dignity. True liberty means that factors such as the school one attended, race or economic background shouldn’t hold anyone back from achieving their dreams.
The second is equality which is often misunderstood as giving everyone equal resources. In reality, equality means recognising the differences and providing resources to meet the shortcomings. For example, women face different challenges compared to men. Achieving true equality means giving those facing differences, the resources they need to succeed which then prevents disparity.
Lastly, justice is crucial. The rule of law should apply to everyone equally. We still see inequality where due to political connections or belonging to elite classes one is favoured. In Sri Lanka, too often, who you know determines what you can achieve. As for justice, it is that the State should mete out equal treatment regardless of the background or connections. These values are my foundation in politics, allowing me to debate, discuss and negotiate confidently within clear boundaries.
Q: The SLPP might not win even a single seat in this election. What are your regrets regarding the decision you have taken?
A: Regardless of whether we win or lose seats, for me politics isn’t about short-term victory. It’s about the kind of politics we bring to the table. The real question is whether our actions are progressive and respect the people’s needs and ideologies. I’m more interested in building a strong foundation of decent politics that leads to long-term trust, regardless of the outcome of the Election. Even if the SLPP doesn’t secure a single seat, what matters to me is winning the bigger picture of politics itself gaining from the win.
As far as regrets are concerned, I deeply regret that the SLPP did not adapt to the changing political landscape. We focused on delivering results, but today, it’s all about catering to the public’s needs and referring to it. This will win big. Our Opposition, just as the NPP, gained support through a compelling story. Even, Sajith Premadasa who provided resources and built infrastructure, struggled because people gravitate towards powerful narratives. Moving forward, the challenge for the SLPP is crafting the right story to be told to the public that aligns with the country’s needs.
Q: You praised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently and believe that change is necessary. Do you think the President is more competent than previous leaders Sri Lanka has seen?
A: I think all leaders have their own competencies and each was given a mandate by the people. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, however, has a tougher challenge. He must secure a bigger mandate and prove his competence through action. His campaign for the Presidency was criticising other political entities which is easier than running a country. I respect that he’s continuing with the same economic policies that we put in place, such as working with the IMF because these policies work. At times, I wonder whether it is Ranil Wickremesinghe who is running the country because I cannot see a difference. The real test, though, will be whether he can deliver on the promises he made to tackle corruption, beyond maintaining the status quo.
Q: Sri Lankans overwhelmingly voted to reject the political elite and corruption that plagued the main political parties. Do you believe the majority in your party are not corrupt?
A: This election was unique. Nobody won with a clear mandate. Former leaders, Opposition leaders and even the President failed to secure an overwhelming mandate from the public. However, I believe Namal Rajapaksa has succeeded in keeping the SLPP intact, while the other parties are fading away. Rather than claiming to be pure or not being corrupt, I think our focus should be on respecting law and order and allowing independent investigations to proceed without political interference.
Q: You were a staunch advocate of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. You even wrote a book about him. Many consider him as the worst President Sri Lanka has had. Do you believe that the Rajapaksas worked in the best interest of the country?
A: As for me, Sri Lanka’s challenges stem from policies that started with former President J.R. Jayewardene and not just the recent leaders. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in my view, was a decent leader who genuinely prioritised the country’s welfare – from healthcare to national security. He faced some of the most difficult issues the country has ever faced. I respect him for not resorting to violence during the ‘Aragalaya’. He didn’t order a crackdown which speaks much for his character. But larger issues, such as economic instability and foreign debt aren’t solely his fault. They are the result of decades of accumulated challenges.
Q: Considering the public’s rejection of corruption and the Rajapaksas being associated with it and your association with the Rajapaksa family, do you believe you can overcome this stigma?
A: Personally, I have no corruption or Commission allegations against me. My political journey is rooted in ideology and the opposition I face is primarily from those who disagree with my ideological stance or the way I present my ideas. If any member of the Rajapaksa family or anyone else for that matter, has misused power or resources, I believe they should face the consequences according to the law. I stick by my records and my commitment to integrity, regardless of my association with any political family.
Q: Is Namal Rajapaksa the most competent leader in the SLPP? And why isn’t there a party vote for leadership?
A: Competence varies across disciplines. What’s crucial now is a leader who understands the party’s vision and challenges. Namal has taken up that responsibility and he’s earned the trust of those within the party. However, political parties here are not democratic. Sri Lanka’s political system is still maturing in that sense and all parties operate under somewhat centralised control.
Q: What are the major issues you see in the NPP’s economic vision and what challenges do they face?
A: The NPP faces a contradiction. They campaigned on promises of sweeping reforms but are following the IMF’s guidance, leaning toward liberal, open-market policies. Although the NPP opposed these ideas while they were in the Opposition, that’s the route to survival and they have acknowledged it now. Anyhow their challenge will be delivering their promises. However their earlier promises are clashing with their current actions and that’s where the reality lies.
Q: It was said the SLPP has fielded a significant number of young candidates. What is the average age of these candidates and what was the selection criteria?
A: The SLPP has an impressive number of young candidates this time, with 103 individuals below the age of 40. Many are running for the first or second time. The SLPP represents the youngest candidate pool for the current election, a tremendous achievement. However, we faced setbacks under Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s leadership since he didn’t hold the Provincial Council elections. That decision stalled a critical middle layer of political development, depriving many young people of valuable experience in the local government process.
The selection process for our candidates involved an interview which evaluated each person’s educational qualifications, party contribution, district-level involvement and the respect they command within their communities. However, we didn’t exclusively prioritise academic qualifications since Parliament should represent all societal groups, not just Graduates. Diversity in background and experience is vital to represent the full spectrum of the population in Parliament.
By Dinuli Francisco