President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed the urgent need for a political overhaul to guide Sri Lanka towards genuine progress, amid rising public disillusionment with politics. He criticized the current political system, describing it as tainted by unethical practices and lacking accountability.
Speaking at a public rally in Kalutara, President Dissanayake remarked, “We have a lot of work to do. If we want to rebuild our country, we must first transform our politics. Politics here has long been treated as a business. Parliament often resembles a spectacle—members jumping around, wielding chili powder, bringing knives, and engaging in disruptive behavior on the chamber floor.”
He further condemned the shielding of lawmakers from accountability, referencing a recent no-confidence motion against the former health minister over alleged medicine theft. Parliament, he said, is now dominated by “lawbreakers and extortionists,” making the political environment “unpleasant and corrupt.”
President Dissanayake declared November 14 as a “Shramadhana” day—a national clean-up day focused on Parliament. He encouraged citizens to support the initiative as a symbolic effort to rid the legislature of corrupt practices.
Additionally, he announced his intent to form a streamlined Cabinet of Ministers with fewer than 25 members, reinforcing his commitment to efficiency, integrity, and the need for transparent governance.
