Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member Milinda Rajapaksha said the government has a right to utilise its full five-year term to implement its pledges, insisting that no one should have to beg for the mandate they’ve already been given by the people.

Speaking during a recent political talk show hosted by Chathura Alwis, Rajapaksha responded to a reference made by the host, who noted that government-affiliated parties are requesting the full duration of their term to deliver on their promises.

“Why are you even asking for it? That’s a right of every leader. Mahinda Rajapaksa had that same right, and when his time ended, he quietly went home. The same happened with Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe. No one should have to beg to hold on to power or return to it. If the people gave me a five-year mandate, then let me work through it. Judge me at the next election. If I fail, vote me out,” Milinda Rajapaksha said.

He went on to criticise the double standards of those now supporting projects they previously opposed. Referring to the Sampur power plant, he pointed out: “Yes there was an electricity crisis (during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure). But who did the country come to that junction? The same people who once blocked Sampur and created panic about it are now working with India to revive it. It doesn’t matter whether India, China, or someone else builds it—what matters is the hypocrisy.”

Milinda Rajapaksha also accused some political parties of stalling national progress by filing lawsuits to prevent energy development. “There’s a history behind these issues. These very groups that once tried to stop the country from moving forward are now pretending to be the champions of development. The public deserves to know the full story,” he added.