Dambulla – April 24: In a stark and emotionally charged address, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa sounded the alarm over what he described as a resurgence of the chilling violence reminiscent of Sri Lanka’s 1988–89 terror period. Speaking at a public gathering in Dambulla, Rajapaksa drew direct parallels between the recent spate of political violence and the darkest chapters of the island’s recent history.
“This country is again witnessing killings in broad daylight—fathers gunned down before their children, candidates attacked during campaigns. One of our party’s candidates has been shot dead, another stabbed,” Rajapaksa revealed. “These may have personal undertones, but no one has the right to take a life. A dangerous culture is resurfacing.”
The SLPP lawmaker criticized the government’s apparent inaction and what he called an effort to shift blame instead of ensuring justice and security. “The government is attempting to pin these murders on convenient scapegoats while failing to protect its citizens,” he said. “They even suppress investigations into past atrocities like the Easter Sunday attacks. The very individuals who held office during that tragedy now occupy key positions in this administration.”
Rajapaksa also accused the government of manipulating the criminal justice system for political gain. “They are using the police and CID not to serve the people, but to shield MPs aligned with them. Remember, a prison commissioner was killed not long ago, and we saw a shooting right in front of a judge in court. The woman involved in that incident is still at large.”
Shifting focus to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), now seen as a growing force in the political sphere, Rajapaksa extended cautious praise for the youth within the party. “There’s a capable and energetic group of young people in the JVP,” he acknowledged, “but the party leadership is using them to peddle lies and slander. Instead of nurturing a new political generation, they are sacrificing it to maintain control.”
In a veiled critique of shifting political allegiances, Rajapaksa also referenced recent visits to the sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. “We were mocked when we went to worship the Tooth Relic, but today, those same critics are standing in the very same lines.”
He ended with a warning about the erosion of national security. “They say they’ll reduce the security provided to Mahinda Rajapaksa, the man who ended the war. But what’s worse is that the security of ordinary citizens has already been reduced. Gunfire has become a background noise.”
Rajapaksa’s remarks appear to be a rallying cry for political accountability and a stern warning against allowing the ghosts of past violence to reemerge unchecked. His speech echoes a growing public concern over rising instability and violence as Sri Lanka braces for future elections.
Almost all articles here have spun stories that undermine the present government. Would the people believe these anymore?