Speaking at a special meeting with the Sri Lankan community in Melbourne, Australia, the Sarvajana Balaya leader stated that the current pressure on the Sri Lankan Rupee and the exchange rate against the US Dollar was not solely caused by the conflict in the Gulf region, but was largely the result of weak economic management and the absence of a long-term national strategy.
Addressing the event titled “Kekkuma Sri Lanka – Mingle with Dilith” held at the Acacia Campus Theatre in Melbourne, Jayaweera said the country’s biggest challenge at present was the erosion of public trust in political leadership rather than a shortage of foreign currency.
“If the responsibility is handed over to us today, we are ready to take over today and demonstrate how the country can be managed,” he stated.
Jayaweera further said that restoring public confidence through honest and transparent communication with citizens was essential for stabilising the economy.
He also claimed that successive administrations had failed to properly manage the economy despite maintaining primary account surpluses, arguing that the country had ultimately gained little benefit from those efforts.
Commenting on the International Monetary Fund programme, the MP stated that Sri Lanka’s present economic difficulties were partly due to the inability of political leaders to implement the programme effectively and with sufficient understanding.
Responding to questions from the audience, Jayaweera said Sarvajana Balaya was not built around traditional personality-based politics, but instead aimed to establish a broader political movement focused on policies, systems, and collective leadership.
He also stated that the party rejects “promise-based politics,” adding that younger generations now expect practical solutions and logical explanations rather than slogans and empty political assurances.
The programme was jointly organised by Sarvajana Balaya and Melbourne Solidarity and attended by a large gathering of Sri Lankans living in Melbourne, Australia.
