The following clarification has been sent by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya: The front page of the Daily Mirror of Monday, 24th January 2022 mischaracterizes a speech made by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. The headline contained therein reads: “An elected dictatorship with democratic structures is needed: Sajith” followed by a bullet-point subheading that erroneously states the following: “I won’t say elections should be scrapped but only suggest that an approach similar to the Margaret Thatcher administration in the UK be implemented.” These headlines, published on the front page of the Daily Mirror, are a gross misrepresentation of the views expressed by the Opposition Leader at an event called ‘An Open Discussion towards a Middle Ground’ on the 22nd of January, the full remarks of which are available online. 

When discussing the failed policies of the current SLPP administration, the Opposition Leader made a clear and unambiguous reference to Lord Hailsham’s “Elective Dictatorship”, drawing parallels to the present state of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, which appears solely accountable to the President and not to the wider electorate that voted for their representatives. The reference to Margaret Thatcher’s ‘Iron Lady’ persona was a comparison to the SLPP’s unilateral, insular and non-consultative mode of Government that has led this country to the brink of economic destruction and social chaos. In his remarks, the Opposition Leader also mentioned the ‘Four Pillars of Democracy’; the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and the Press. In this regard, the SJB must reiterate that the various Press and Media institutions of Sri Lanka are duty-bound to be accurate and unbiased in their reporting.