A former doctor and now a key figure in the National People’s Power (NPP) and its Kalutara District leader and candidate, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, shares his journey from medicine to politics. Driven by a vision for systemic change, he discusses his party’s plans to transform Sri Lanka’s economy by boosting local production, digitising public services, strengthening healthcare, and increasing tourism. Dr. Jayatissa highlights the importance of a strong, corruption-free Government to empower rural communities and restore national pride, to lead Sri Lanka towards resilience and self-reliance.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: How did you get into politics?
A: My hometown is Agalawatta. I developed an interest in politics during school and joined the Socialist Students’ Union associated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna while at the University. By 2009, I was a practising doctor, but I chose to leave medicine to run for Provincial Council elections. I contested the 2014 Provincial Council election and the 2015 general election.
Q: Medicine is widely regarded as a prestigious profession. Was it hard to leave such a career and enter full-time politics?
A: Yes, it was indeed a difficult decision. However, my family, especially my wife, supported it wholeheartedly. For society to advance people need to make sacrifices; otherwise, we risk remaining stagnant.
Q: The general election is near, and your party is focused on building a strong Government. Why does the country need such a Government now?
A: We’ve inherited a country in economic, political, and social decline—a bankrupt nation whose international standing is at an all-time low, with rampant corruption, fraud, and public distrust in the very medicines provided in hospitals. Rebuilding this nation demands strong and decisive action. A robust Parliament is essential for economic growth, public protection, social welfare, political reform, and diplomatic renewal. In order to make the transformative decisions necessary, we need quantitative and qualitative growth in Parliament to lift Sri Lanka out of its current political, economic, and social abyss.
Q: What economic program does the National People’s Power (NPP) propose for the country?
A: Since 1948, successive rulers failed to establish a production-based economy to align with global market trends. They didn’t modernise the country’s primary products. When Sri Lanka adopted an open economy in 1977 without safeguarding local industries, domestic production largely collapsed. This is why the Sri Lankan flag, Buddha statues, maps and souvenirs sold in tourist areas are imported.
The NPP’s aim is to establish a production-centred economy by boosting local production wherever possible. This doesn’t mean stopping all imports, but we will identify products we can produce domestically and implement a plan to manufacture them here. The Government will collaborate with the private sector, public groups, entrepreneurs, and social organisations to create a comprehensive production network that strengthens the country’s economy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chains worldwide were disrupted, leading many nations to bolster their own domestic production.
For instance, Singapore, with very limited land and water resources, is working to produce 30 percent of its food needs by 2030. Sri Lanka should also strive to increase domestic production and tap into global supply chains, focusing on the international market rather than merely the domestic market.
Q: During the Presidential election, there was talk of Sri Lanka revising its international agreements. What is your view?
A: We have been clear that we’ll review and, where necessary, revise agreements to secure favourable terms for Sri Lanka. We aim to create bilateral trade agreements with other countries. Our economic strategy is based on flexibility and transparency. Under the previous Government, a more favourable agreement with the IMF could have been reached to strengthen social security programs; this opportunity was unfortunately lost.
Q: With the system in disarray, where does the process of restoration start?
A: The initial step will be the digitisation of Sri Lanka. Many countries have digitalised all commercial, economic, and public service activities, but Sri Lanka has not yet adopted this approach. Digitisation will streamline public services and curb corruption. Initially, we’ll digitise five major institutions: Excise, Customs, Inland Revenue, Registration of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and the Land Registrar Department.
Tourism is a crucial source of foreign exchange, and we expect it to generate $8.5 billion by 2025. Our goal is to increase tourist arrivals to four million annually by 2025. Infrastructure improvements, such as expanding Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in partnership with Japan, are part of this initiative.
We’re also focusing on rural economic development. For too long, priority has been given to large-scale mega-projects. Our strategy prioritises rural areas by providing capital, technology, and market access to drive local economic growth. We’re improving road and communication facilities in these regions, so that rural economic units can contribute to the national economy, with benefits flowing back to rural communities.
The Clean Sri Lanka program will extend beyond waste management to create a cleaner, law-abiding society. This initiative isn’t a short-term effort but a national program tied to education and culture. The goal is to cultivate a culture that naturally motivates citizens to keep the country clean, disciplined, and respectful of the law.
Q: How can people trust that the NPP-led Government will keep its promises?
A: We gained power with a commitment to eliminate corruption. Today, the international community recognises our President as an anti-corruption leader, which has encouraged world leaders to collaborate with us. We’ve already reopened negotiations on eleven Japanese projects suspended under the previous Government, including digitisation and the Katunayake airport expansion. Agreements have been reached to resume and even expand some of these projects, demonstrating the international community’s confidence in our anti-corruption stance.
Q: Does the country need a Constitutional amendment?
A: Successive ruling parties have used the Constitution as a tool for consolidating their power. This highlights the need for a new Constitution that benefits the country and its people. We need Amendments to protect and strengthen citizens’ social and political rights. However, this process will not be rushed. A draft will be discussed with the public, giving adequate time for input before being presented to Parliament.
Q: Public confidence in the quality of medicines has been severely impacted, with even heart patients waiting years for surgery. How will the NPP address these issues in healthcare?
A: Providing quality medicines is one of our top priorities. Under an NPP Government, we will ensure continuous access to quality medicines through public hospitals, while also making these available at reasonable prices in pharmacies nationwide. Establishing a fully equipped laboratory to monitor medicine quality is a key focus, as we currently lack internationally standardised laboratories. The absence of formal testing facilities creates doubts about medicine quality, so we are setting up an advanced medicine-testing institute.
We’ll also address inefficiencies, technical issues, corruption, and political interference in health-related Government institutions, such as the Medical Supply Unit, Drug Regulatory Authority, and State Pharmaceutical Corporation. By eliminating these obstacles, we can improve the quality of both medicines and the overall healthcare system.
To reduce overcrowding in hospitals, we’ll establish “Primary Health Centres” responsible for the basic healthcare needs of local communities, each serving around 4,000 people. These centres will input local health data into a centralised system, connected with the broader ‘Sri Lanka Digitisation Program’. This would enable patients to receive care at any Government hospital using a personal identification number, enhancing healthcare access and efficiency across the country.
Pic by Wimal Karunathilaka
