Dilith slams Govt, says he strives for exemplary journalism

January 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM

First-time MP Dilith Jayaweera slammed the government for failing to deliver on its promises, and instead covering up through various national programmes, such as ‘Clean Sri Lanka’.

Addressing the Parliament today, MP Jayaweera said that 49 days since the inauguration of the Parliament, it is evident that the Government has forgotten that it is the governing body of the nation and not the student council of the Kelaniya University.

“The people had great expectations of this government. But some of your pledges are those that have been made for political motives. If any of you in the government have done a profit and loss account, you would know that none of your pledges can be fulfilled. Because without an income, you cannot spend,” he said. 

MP Dilith Jayaweera further proposed that the best course would be to openly inform the public that the pledges cannot be fulfilled. 

“By conducting programmes such as Clean Sri Lanka, the government is giving more hope to the public, instead of fulfilling its previous pledges. The country cannot move forward with such expectations from the citizens. We can’t keep giving them hope, we have to start delivering something. They are losing faith in the system,” he said. 

MP Jayaweera said that by acknowledging that the election pledges cannot be met, it would be the actual implementation of the Clean Sri Lanka project and would be the dawning of a new political era, which will be highly respected by the public. 

A tense situation then arose in Parliament with Government MPs opposing MP Jayaweear’s statement slamming the government over its failed pledges. 

MP Dilith Jayaweera also slammed the government’s mudslinging campaign against newspapers, saying it was regrettable to see the attempts to obstruct moves to establish a disciplined Parliament in the country. 

“How come Derana is good and Aruna is bad? Morning and Pulse magazine which all belong to me, are they good and bad because of me, the owner? At the time even when I contested the Presidential Election, you’ll also monitored it. I am a media owner who has strived for exemplary journalism,” he said. (Newswire)