Jayantha Samaraweera, the National Organizer of the National Freedom Front (NFF), has accused a coalition of diaspora-backed monks of leading a covert initiative to advance separatist objectives in Sri Lanka. Speaking at a media briefing held at the NFF headquarters in Pitakotte, Samaraweera expressed concerns about what he described as a deliberate effort to manipulate the recent electoral mandate and push the country toward division under the pretense of fostering national unity.
Samaraweera began by praising President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for his commitment to combating racism and religious extremism, as articulated in his policy manifesto. However, he urged the President to remain equally firm against separatism, which he called the “poisonous culmination” of both racism and extremism. He stressed that separatist agendas threaten not only national unity but also the sovereignty and stability of Sri Lanka.
Referring to the recent election results in the Northern Province, Samaraweera highlighted what he claimed was a clear rejection of separatist politics by the Tamil community. He pointed to the defeat of Tamil National Alliance leader M.A. Sumanthiran, a prominent advocate for Tamil separatism, as evidence. According to Samaraweera, the decision by Northern voters to oust Sumanthiran signifies their disapproval of divisive politics and a preference for unity within a sovereign Sri Lanka. Similarly, he noted that religious extremism faced rejection across the country, citing the struggles of figures like Rauff Hakeem to maintain political influence as further proof of the electorate’s dissatisfaction with polarizing ideologies.
Despite these domestic rejections, Samaraweera warned that elements within the Tamil diaspora are attempting to reinterpret the election mandate to advance their separatist goals. He specifically referenced a congratulatory letter sent by the Canadian Tamil Congress to President Dissanayake after his election victory. According to Samaraweera, the letter included demands such as the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, which would grant provincial police powers, constitutional reforms allegedly tailored to support separatist ambitions, and the cessation of development projects related to Buddhist temples in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He argued that these demands clearly reveal the diaspora’s intent to revive a separatist movement under the guise of promoting democracy and reconciliation.
Samaraweera also alleged that certain monks, influenced by diaspora funding, are preparing to present a proposal to the President known as the Himalaya Declaration. This initiative, he claimed, aims to fully implement the 13th Amendment, dismantle military camps in the North and East, prosecute military personnel involved in the civil war, and significantly weaken Sri Lanka’s armed forces. He cautioned that enacting such measures would endanger the country’s sovereignty and compromise its security and stability.
Highlighting the broader implications of these developments, Samaraweera emphasized that the recent election mandate was a decisive rejection of all forms of extremism, including separatism. He expressed concern that diaspora groups and their allies are deliberately misrepresenting this mandate to push policies that could divide the nation. He called on President Dissanayake to firmly reject any proposals that could pave the way for separatism or undermine the military’s strength and integrity.
Samaraweera concluded by calling for vigilance and unity to defend Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. He stressed the importance of resisting both domestic and international efforts to destabilize the country and reaffirmed the NFF’s commitment to safeguarding national unity. Former Moratuwa Municipal Council member Suresh Indika and former Seethawakapura Pradeshiya Sabha member Chandana Liyanage, who also attended the briefing, echoed Samaraweera’s sentiments and expressed their support for the NFF’s position on these critical national issues.
