“Opposition’s Helplessness Is Reflected in the Protests,” Says Minister Chandana Abayarathna

Colombo, September 24, 2026 — Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor Chandana Abayarathna, speaking to the media, said the protests demonstrated what he described as the opposition’s helplessness.

He said the Opposition Leader should also consider how justified it was to challenge the determination issued by the judiciary regarding the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

The Minister said that the government had not used tear gas during the past two years and emphasised that anyone had the democratic right to engage in protests.

He also said provisions had been made this year to recruit 120,000 additional people to the public service, compared with the previous year, with the objective of expanding and improving the efficiency of the public service.

According to the Minister, a programme is also being implemented to obtain views from the public regarding issues affecting the public service.

He said the opposition had the right to protest, but its role should not be to oppose everything done by the government, adding that it should support measures it considered constructive.

“We have no issue with the opposition exercising its right to protest,” he said.

The Minister said the government was moving the country forward under the guidance of the President, describing Sri Lanka as a country that had previously experienced a breakdown.

He said the government had worked over the past two years to move the country forward and would continue those efforts.

“Let the opposition carry out its protests. We will allow them to do their work while we continue with ours,” he said.

Referring again to the protests, Abayarathna said they demonstrated what he described as the opposition’s helplessness.

He said the judiciary had issued a determination on the matter and that challenging a judicial determination was a serious issue that the Opposition Leader should take into consideration.

The Minister said the government would proceed with the next steps regarding the 22nd Amendment in Parliament in accordance with the judicial determination.

He reiterated that the government had not used tear gas during the past two years and said everyone had a democratic right to engage in protests.

Regarding the Easter Sunday attacks, Abayarathna said some individuals had already been punished in connection with the attacks. However, he added that if there were others who should also be held accountable, they too should receive the appropriate punishment.