Sri Lanka, July 11 -- Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa has alleged that the government is using the arrests of young people and anti-crime operations to divert public attention from mounting economic difficulties and its failure to fulfil election promises.

Addressing an SLPP divisional meeting in Kotte on July 9, Rajapaksa claimed that the government's policies had resulted in factory closures, job losses, a rising cost of living, and declining investor confidence, while accusing it of targeting the younger generation through law enforcement operations.

He further alleged that graduates who had been promised jobs before the election were instead met with police action when they sought employm...