Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has condemned a recent increase in wheat flour prices, warning of broader food inflation, while simultaneously challenging the government to hold Provincial Council elections and raising concerns about judicial independence.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has attacked the government over a Rs. 17 per kilogram increase in wheat flour prices, arguing the rise will drive up costs for bread and other flour-based products at a time when households are already struggling financially. Speaking at a farmers' gathering in Tissamaharama, Hambantota, Premadasa characterised the price adjustment as part of a broader affordability crisis affecting ordinary Sri Lankans.

Premadasa used the occasion to launch multiple criticisms of the administration's economic record. He claimed that Sri Lanka ranks 120th among 130 countries in minimum wage comparisons globally, suggesting that local wages remain disconnected from actual living expenses. He further disputed official poverty statistics, questioning whether the Department of Census and Statistics' figure of Rs. 17,315 represented a realistic monthly survival threshold. According to Premadasa, between 30% and 40% of the population faces poverty conditions, and he called for targeted government programmes to support affected families.

Beyond economic matters, Premadasa challenged the government to conduct Provincial Council elections, framing such polls as a legitimate test of public confidence in the administration. He also criticised the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment, which would raise retirement ages for superior court judges, characterising it as an attempt to compromise judicial independence and undermine democratic safeguards.

The Opposition Leader broadened his critique to encompass agriculture, employment, healthcare and foreign investment, contending that government policies have failed to provide adequate relief during the economic downturn. He additionally advocated for strengthened measures to encourage foreign direct investment and a comprehensive national strategy to develop the tourism sector.