MP Dilith Jayaweera says he is prepared to take over the country “even today” if the opportunity arises, claiming that his party has the necessary plan to resolve the current economic crisis.

Speaking at a special meeting with the Sri Lankan community in Melbourne, Australia, the Sarvajana Balaya leader said the ongoing pressure on the Sri Lankan Rupee and the US Dollar exchange rate was not solely due to the Gulf conflict, but largely due to failures in economic management and the lack of a long-term strategic programme.

Addressing the gathering titled “Kekkuma Sri Lanka – Mingle with Dilith” held at the Acacia Campus Theatre in Melbourne, Jayaweera said the country’s biggest issue at present was the loss of public confidence in leadership rather than a shortage of dollars.

“If we are given the responsibility today, we will take it over today and show how it can be done,” he said.

Jayaweera said rebuilding trust through “honest and truthful dialogue” with the public was the first step towards stabilising the economy.

He further claimed that successive governments had failed to manage the economy properly despite maintaining primary account surpluses, warning that the country had effectively “traded ginger for chillies.”

The MP also criticised the implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, saying Sri Lanka’s current difficulties were partly due to the inability of the leadership to execute the programme with sufficient strength and understanding.

Responding to questions from the audience, Jayaweera said Sarvajana Balaya was not centred around a traditional political leadership model, but instead focused on building a broader movement with teams and policies rather than personality-driven politics.

He also said his party avoided “promise politics,” arguing that younger generations now demand logical explanations and practical plans instead of political slogans.

The event was jointly organised by Sarvajana Balaya and Melbourne Solidarity, with a large number of Sri Lankans living in Melbourne attending the programme.