United Republic Front leader Patali Champika Ranawaka issued a stern warning to the public during a rally in Maharagama, claiming that a secretive agreement signed by the National People’s Power (NPP) with India could pull Sri Lanka into a potential war between India and Pakistan, putting the island nation at risk of becoming a target for jihadist retaliation.
Describing the agreement as a “scam deal,” Ranawaka accused the NPP of compromising Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. He said that in the event of military conflict between India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka might automatically be dragged into the confrontation, making it a legitimate target for extremist groups. He stressed that this was not only reckless diplomacy but a dangerous gamble with the country’s security.
Speaking at the rally organized to support his party’s candidates contesting the Maharagama Municipal Council under the pencil symbol, Ranawaka shifted focus to the progress his leadership had made in the past. He recalled a series of development projects under his administration, including the restoration of the Boralesgamuwa Tank, the construction of the Kottawa and Maharagama bus stands, and the transformation of public spaces into parks. He highlighted the successful housing schemes in Rukmalgama and Wiyatpura, which provided over 800 homes to middle-income families.
He expressed regret that these plans were abandoned after Mahinda Rajapaksa’s SLPP came to power in 2019. Ranawaka criticized the decision to appoint an MP from Divulapitiya to represent Maharagama, calling it a political mockery, and said the legal proceedings around the matter dragged on pointlessly beyond the term’s end.
Ranawaka accused the NPP of lacking a forward-looking vision, saying their plans amounted to little more than digging wells and repairing roads. He questioned whether the party had proposed anything substantial to develop Maharagama into a commercial or metropolitan center and accused them of offering small-town solutions when the city needs transformative urban planning.
Addressing recent public dissatisfaction over the disorganized Dalada Mangalaya pilgrimage in Kandy, Ranawaka launched a scathing attack on the government’s inability to manage large crowds and maintain basic sanitation. He ridiculed the President and Prime Minister, questioning their religious commitment and civic competence, and said the sacred city of Kandy had deteriorated into a space of chaos and filth under their leadership.
Ranawaka also spoke about the unresolved Easter Sunday attacks, criticizing the government’s failure to prosecute the masterminds. Referring to findings allegedly contained in an FBI report, he claimed that a National List MP from his own political sphere had been named, but that Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary remained unaware. He mocked the lack of initiative to find those truly responsible, accusing the authorities of indifference.
Returning to the main theme of geopolitical danger, Ranawaka warned that Sri Lanka could soon find itself involuntarily entangled in India’s military affairs. He insisted that this could expose the island to retaliatory attacks by jihadist groups, undermining national security and eroding the country’s long-standing non-aligned stance.
He concluded his speech by presenting his party’s ambitious plan for Maharagama’s urban renewal. He pledged to upgrade healthcare services, digitize bureaucratic procedures, and resolve the city’s long-standing waste management issues. He stated that his team of professionals was prepared to undertake this transformation without relying on state funding, and he promised to base development on grassroots proposals gathered through newly-formed community development committees.
Ranawaka called on the public to support the United Republic Front in the upcoming election on May 6, assuring them that his party had both the expertise and the commitment to rebuild the city and secure its future.
