Sarvajana Balaya leader Dilith Jayaweera says he is prepared to take over the running of the country “even today” if the opportunity arises, claiming his party has the plan needed to resolve the current economic crisis.
Speaking at a community event in Melbourne, Australia, the opposition MP said the sustained pressure on the rupee against the US dollar was not solely a result of the Gulf conflict but largely due to failures in economic management and the absence of a long-term strategic programme.
“If we are given the responsibility today, we will take it over today and show how it can be done,” he told the gathering, titled “Kekkuma Sri Lanka – Mingle with Dilith,” held at the Acacia Campus Theatre.
Jayaweera said the country’s biggest issue was the loss of public confidence in leadership rather than a shortage of dollars, and that rebuilding trust through “honest and truthful dialogue” was the first step towards stabilising the economy. He argued that successive governments had failed to manage the economy despite maintaining primary account surpluses, warning that the country had “traded ginger for chillies.”
He also criticised the execution of the International Monetary Fund programme, saying the leadership lacked the strength and understanding to implement it effectively. Responding to questions, he said Sarvajana Balaya was built around teams and policies rather than personality-driven politics, and that it avoided “promise politics” because younger voters now demand practical plans over slogans.
The event was jointly organised by Sarvajana Balaya and Melbourne Solidarity.
