Digambaram draws a broad brush canvas of SL's existing political situation

Palani Digambaram is not a politician known for grandstanding or abstract theorizing.

- BY SAMAN INDRAJITH

As Deputy Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, an SJB Member of Parliament, and leader of the National Union of Workers, his politics has been firmly rooted in the lived realities of Sri Lanka's hill country communities. In this interview, Digambaram explains why he broke ranks with the opposition to vote with the government on the 2026 Budget, citing long-overdue salary relief for estate workers.He reflects on the foreign policy direction of the NPP government, the evolving political balance in the plantation regions, and the limits of ideology in governance. From disaster response after Cyclone Ditwah to opposition unity and grassroots development, Digambaram offers a candid assessment shaped by decades of on-the-ground political engagement rather than shifting political alliances.

Q: You voted with the government on the 2026 Budget, which surprised many as you are a member of the opposition. What led you to take this decision?

A: We voted with the government because, for the first time, a government allocated Rs. 500 million specifically for salary increments for estate workers. Even the Yahapalana government, of which I was a member, promised salary increases for plantation workers but failed to deliver. This decision by the current government deserves appreciation.

I made this decision on the very first day President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the Budget proposals. On that same day, I met Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and explained why this move should be welcomed, as it directly benefits the hill country people. Mr. Premadasa understood my position and informed me that I was free to vote with the government on this matter.

Q: How would you describe the foreign policy direction of the NPP government?