A tense confrontation during a disaster relief visit in Matale ended in calm dialogue and reconciliation, highlighting public frustration, political accountability, and the urgent need to resettle displaced families.
A youth who confronted Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa during his visit to disaster affected residents in Matale yesterday later surrendered after explaining his concerns, bringing the incident to a peaceful close.
The confrontation took place during a media briefing when the youth raised his voice and alleged irregularities in land inspections carried out in the area. He claimed that inspections had been handled by an individual referred to as “Dinesh aiya” and accused him of selecting all plots of safe land. During the exchange, the youth shouted, “Apita ape eka innawa,” expressing anger and frustration over land allocation and relocation decisions.
Following the outburst, MP Rajapaksa called the youth aside and asked whether he was willing to relocate to a new house and whether he had objections to such a move. He advised the youth on the importance of listening to others and acknowledged the hardships faced by residents after the disaster.
As tensions rose, supporters surrounding MP Rajapaksa attempted to chase the youth away, describing his behaviour as indecent. However, the MP intervened, prevented the situation from escalating, and stressed the importance of collective action to secure a better future for displaced families.
“You look after your Dinesh aiya, I will do my politics. But we cannot keep these people in displaced camps for months. We need to find a solution,” MP Rajapaksa said.
He added that any shortcomings of the President or the government should be raised in Parliament and that disputes should not be argued at disaster sites. He proposed appointing a selection committee to determine responsibility, stating that conclusions should not be drawn prematurely.
“My politics is different, and I do not put blame on anyone. This is not the place to argue. First, we must send these people back to their homes,” he said.
The youth later agreed with the MP’s remarks, and the two embraced, ending the confrontation on a conciliatory note.
