A formal complaint filed with the CID alleges that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s public remarks have endangered religious harmony and calls for his arrest and prosecution under Sri Lanka’s ICCPR law once his term in office ends.
The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya has filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department in Colombo on 2026.01.19, calling for the arrest of Anura Kumara Dissanayake immediately after the conclusion of his presidential term. The party alleges that the President has acted in a manner that incites hatred and discord among ethnic and religious communities and should be prosecuted under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act.
The complaint was submitted by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Youth Secretary Kumara Rajaratne and is addressed to the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department.
2026.01.19
Director
Criminal Investigation Department
York Street
Colombo 01.
Dear Director,
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s actions to create hatred and discord among the races
In his speech at a public meeting held at the Kokuvil Technical College playground in Jaffna on 16.01.2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made the following statement:
“There are conflicts centered around a sacred place. People come to Jaffna after passing the Sri Maha Bodhi Thero to perform Poya. There is no precept there, our Venerable, there is hatred. Or they come to one place in Jaffna after passing a large number of temples and sacred places to perform precepts. Not for the sake of precepts, but for the sake of hatred.”
This statement of the President was widely publicized in the local media and on social media.
According to the complaint, these remarks have created a misleading image among Tamil communities regarding Buddhists who visit historical Buddhist shrines in the North, potentially placing such devotees at risk of harassment. It further claims that similar resentment could arise among Sinhalese devotees toward Tamils traveling to Kataragama, and among Catholics visiting the Madhu Church, thereby escalating ethnic and religious tensions nationwide.
The complaint asserts that these actions violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act No. 56 of 2007. While acknowledging presidential immunity during his tenure, the party requests that legal action be taken immediately after his term ends.
To this,
Patriotically,
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya
Kumara Rajaratne
Youth Secretary
