[2][11][12] In 2020, a video was posted to social media in which Nishantha was seen attempting to force forest conservationists and locals to allow mangroves in Negombo to be destroyed to build a volleyball court.

[16][17] In early 2022, protests erupted in Sri Lanka against the government, which Nishantha represented, in response to a severe economic crisis marked by rampant inflation, frequent blackouts, and shortages of fuel, domestic gas, and other essential goods.

[19] Furthermore, he labeled the protesters as 'drug addicts,' suggesting that they deserved to face the same anti-government suppression tactics witnessed during the 1971 and 1987-1989 insurrections led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

During the conference, he alleged that several magistrates in the country were providing preferential treatment to activists who had taken part in the protests, including granting them bail.

These organizations argued that his remarks during the press conference and his purported attacks on protesters had adversely impacted the "honour and the image of the judiciary".

[22] In the early hours of 25 January 2024, Nishantha was involved in a traffic collision on the Katunayake Highway after his car collided with the roadside barrier and a moving container truck.

[24] Nishantha, who was asleep at the time of the incident, suffered servere injuries to his head and right leg, leading to his admission to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama, where he died.

[23] The driver later confessed to the police that the car was travelling at a speed of nearly 160 km/h (99 mph) at the time of the accident, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.