Agriculture Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has stated he will not contest the next parliamentary election from Kandy District, while asserting that the NPP government will remain in power indefinitely regardless of personnel changes.

Agriculture Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has clarified that the National People's Power government's continued hold on power is distinct from whether individual politicians remain in office, addressing apparent tensions between his position and recent statements by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Lal Kantha announced he does not plan to contest another parliamentary election from Kandy District, noting that he had only run in the previous election at President Dissanayake's request. He emphasized that political participation extends beyond holding parliamentary or ministerial positions, citing JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva as an example of sustained political engagement outside formal office.

The minister distinguished between the NPP government's longevity as a political movement and the tenure of individual politicians. He stated that while President Dissanayake might choose not to contest future elections, alternative NPP candidates would be available to lead the party forward. According to Lal Kantha, there is no requirement for politicians to "hold these positions until we die."

Lal Kantha attributed his confidence in the government's durability to the unique circumstances of the NPP's rise to power, which he characterized as emerging from a major public uprising rather than conventional electoral competition. He argued that this foundation had weakened traditional opposition forces, making it difficult for alternative political movements to gain traction. He questioned whether current Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa could serve as an effective focal point for voters dissatisfied with the government.

Drawing on four decades of political experience, Lal Kantha noted that the JVP had sustained its political work through multiple splits and setbacks before eventually establishing the NPP.