“A Government of 24-Hour Lies”: Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa Slams Administration at Education Officers’ Protest

By Lions Roar Aotearoa Political Desk

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (Sunday, February 1, 2026) — Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, has launched a blistering attack on the current administration, accusing the government of maintaining a culture of “24-hour-a-day lies.”

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader made these comments while visiting a fast-unto-death protest organized by the Sri Lanka Education Development Officers’ Association. The officers are striking over long-standing unresolved issues regarding their service conditions and professional grading.

📍 Broken Election Promises

During his address to the media at the protest site, Premadasa highlighted that the government had explicitly promised to resolve the grievances of Education Development Officers during the last election cycle.

• The Accusation: Premadasa stated that the government secured votes by offering solutions that have yet to materialize.
• The Demand: He emphasized that it is the government’s moral and legal duty to fulfill the promises made to these public servants, who play a crucial role in the nation’s school system.
• “Governing by Deception”: The Opposition Leader claimed that the public is being misled daily, with the current administration failing to address the bread-and-butter issues of the working class.

🤝 The SJB Alternative

With the fast-unto-death reaching a critical stage, Premadasa positioned his party as the only viable solution for the struggling officers.

“If a Samagi Jana Balawegaya government is brought to power, we will not leave you in the streets. We have a clear roadmap to resolve these professional issues immediately,” Premadasa told the gathered strikers.

He pledged that the SJB would prioritize the stabilization of the education sector’s administrative staff to ensure the smooth functioning of schools nationwide.

📊 Protester Grievances Summary