Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday (28 April) acknowledged that there are doubts regarding the accuracy of statements made by a few politicians affiliated with the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB), which have recently sparked controversy.
He made these remarks during the Derana 360 programme, hosted by Kalindu Karunarathne.
During the discussion, Karunarathne highlighted the ongoing debate concerning the expenses and losses associated with the executive presidency. He referred to a recent claim by NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi at a political rally, where she stated that the government had saved Rs 98 million this year by discontinuing the tradition of sending Sinhala and Tamil New Year SMS greetings from the President.
Challenging this figure, Karunarathne pointed out that with approximately 29.3 million mobile users in Sri Lanka, even at standard commercial SMS rates, the total cost would only amount to around Rs 1.2 million — far less than the Rs 98 million claimed. He stressed that MPs must verify information before using it publicly, particularly when relying on social media sources.
Jayatissa also disagreed with Kottahachchi’s figure, stating that it was inaccurate.
Another major issue discussed during the programme was a claim by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage that Sri Lanka’s dollar reserves had dropped to just USD 25 million when the NPP assumed power. Jayatissa clarified that at the time of the transition, the country’s reserves stood at around USD 5.9 billion and have since increased to approximately USD 6.35 billion.
Karunarathne noted that opponents accuse the government of lying. In response, Jayatissa admitted that errors and misstatements can happen — whether intentionally or unintentionally — but insisted that mistakes must be acknowledged and corrected transparently.
He emphasised that as a party committed to creating a new political culture, the National People’s Power (NPP) maintained internal discipline and higher standards of accountability. Mistakes, he said, are discussed within the party and corrections are made openly when necessary.
Jayatissa stressed that political culture must be based on truth and honest communication with the people, rejecting any casual acceptance of falsehoods. However, he argued that blaming the entire government for the misstatements of a few individuals was unfair.
He further rejected claims that government misstatements amounted to deliberate lying, noting that errors are acknowledged and corrected, including during cabinet media briefings.
Jayatissa also pointed out that while the government faces criticism, false statements made by opposition figures such as Sajith Premadasa and Ajith Perera — particularly on matters related to religious events and state assets — should be scrutinised just as rigorously.
Finally, Jayatissa dismissed accusations that the government was undermining Sinhala-Buddhist culture. He said he himself grew up in a Sinhala-Buddhist environment, and highlighted that state support for religious events such as the Dalada Perahera, Vesak celebrations, and Poson festivals reflects the government’s commitment to upholding cultural values.
