India should have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council
THE WEEK India|September 22, 2024
Young men and women queue up for security check outside the Samagi Jana Balawegaya office in Colombo.
LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN
India should have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council

Lemon yellow and light green colour flags fly high everywhere, and the office appears unusually busy. The party’s presidential candidate and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa walks in, with a smile on his face and folded hands. Sajith spoke exclusively with THE WEEK, explaining the importance of the upcoming election, his promise to abolish the executive presidency and his views on ties with India. Edited excerpts:

Q/ How crucial is this election for the people of Sri Lanka? Why do you think they should vote for you?

A/ It is a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s history. The people will have an opportunity to express their opinion and to provide their mandate for a new approach, for a pathbreaking vision and for changing the old guard. The country has gone through a terrible human and economic tragedy. Catastrophe has engulfed the whole country, affecting children, mothers, youth, everyone. Except for the super rich, every strata of society has been affected. This election will give an opportunity for the people to make a choice against the old approach of protecting the rich and the crony capitalists. Our approach would be to serve all 22 million people of our country. The people also have a choice [of not opting for] extreme socialism and Marxism, which has not proven to be a viable model in modern governance. I am very confident that they will make the right choice.

Q/ You contested the 2019 election as well. Is there a change in the mindset of the people?

This story is from the September 22, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 22, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEK INDIAView All
Forging the future
THE WEEK India

Forging the future

As the curtain falls on 2024, I take pride in the extraordinary milestones achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This year stands as a testament to the Modi government's resolve to forge a resilient and forward-looking Bharat. From groundbreaking advancements in infrastructure to visionary global initiatives, these efforts resonate deeply with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 12, 2025
Our strange democracy
THE WEEK India

Our strange democracy

Abraham Lincoln is lauded as among the very best presidents the US ever had: the statesman par excellence successfully steered the nation through the devastating and perilous years of the American civil war. Not only did Lincoln manage to keep his country united, he also ensured the passage of the 13th amendment to the US constitution, which abolished slavery.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 12, 2025
Five years of post-pandemic fashion
THE WEEK India

Five years of post-pandemic fashion

It has been five years since we discovered what Covid-19 was, and five years since it disrupted the world forever. The World Health Organization activated their emergency systems on January 1, 2020, and informed the world by January 4, 2020. By the end of that week, they had set guidelines for various countries to follow. Comparable to the Spanish flu of 1918, more than 7 million people have died of Covid according to official data. Unofficially, no one has an idea. WHO has just this week asked China to provide critical data to understand the virus's origins as a “moral and scientific imperative”.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 12, 2025
Community spirit
THE WEEK India

Community spirit

Rhythm of Dammam opens a window to the world of African-origin Siddis of Uttara Kannada

time-read
4 mins  |
January 12, 2025
'Breaking' down a scandal
THE WEEK India

'Breaking' down a scandal

Society Girl is not just a case study of a high-profile death in Pakistan but also a stark commentary on media trials

time-read
2 mins  |
January 12, 2025
Progress card
THE WEEK India

Progress card

Jasmine Shah's book tells you what the AAP has achieved in Delhi in the last 10 years

time-read
2 mins  |
January 12, 2025
SENSE IN NONSENSE
THE WEEK India

SENSE IN NONSENSE

In his latest book of poetry, Ruskin Bond is at his funniest

time-read
4 mins  |
January 12, 2025
Get ready for Trump bump
THE WEEK India

Get ready for Trump bump

The ‘butterfly effect’ is a beautiful, mysterious metaphor of the planet’s interconnectedness.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 12, 2025
QUIET FLOWS THE FAITH
THE WEEK India

QUIET FLOWS THE FAITH

The melding of an ancient amorphous faith and the latest science; of an antique tradition and new practices; ways of life older than memory and new expressions is happening at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

time-read
8 mins  |
January 12, 2025
Trash to treasure
THE WEEK India

Trash to treasure

How a weed-choked Dal Lake spurred Maninder Singh's journey to become a waste management visionary

time-read
6 mins  |
January 12, 2025