In a fiery media address outside court, Namal Rajapaksa accuses the government of shielding organized crime, deflecting from economic failures, and continuing to blame past administrations instead of governing.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organizer and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has sharply criticized the current administration, stating that it is “ridiculous” for a government in power for one and a half years to continue blaming its predecessors for present crises.
Speaking to the media after appearing before the Colombo High Court on the 16th, Rajapaksa urged the government to directly confront the country’s mounting economic, security and governance challenges rather than shifting responsibility to the previous regime.
He began by confirming that his case had been postponed.
“Today’s case has been postponed to the 19th of February. Especially today, the legal system of this country is insecure, and a lawyer in the legal field has already been murdered by organized criminals. So, if lawyers are being murdered by organized criminals, on the other hand, the government is trying to socialize it and brand the lawyer as someone who associates with those organized criminals. It is clearly seen that they are trying to undermine us. That means that those organized criminals associated with the government are allowed to behave freely and that the government is taking action against the parties opposing those organized criminals.
Recently, a lawyer was attacked when he came out of court. Similarly, the Minister of Health says that the people will take care of doctors, which means he is speaking threateningly to public service professionals. Now is the time for struggle. The youth instigated it. In the end, the instigators became the kings, and twelve youths went to the polls.
It is clear that this is a similar process that is being tried now. So, when the cost of living of the people of the country cannot be controlled, when jobs cannot be generated, when investors cannot be brought in, the government is trying to divert the public opinion to another side. For this, we clearly see that today the government is using organized criminals to disrupt and disrupt the lives of the people of this country. So, it has been more than a year and a half since this government came to power, hasn’t the President been elected? Still, the finger is pointed at the previous government. The police, their Minister of Justice, and the government said that they have two-thirds of them. They said that they brought flowers. So, the government brought flowers, and those who were caught growing cannabis plants, and those who brought flowers, and those who tied themselves up, have come to parliament.
Now, on the other hand, we saw the coal scam. During the previous government, the government brought small coal to the government. This government has lost crores of rupees. Now, did the previous government throw away 323 containers from the port? The two drug containers from this government. They said there was an ice factory in Nuwara Eliya. Now, did the previous governments throw out those two drug containers from the port? Did the previous government bring in those 1700 cabs? All the people who came to say that they would go by bus instead of by helicopter are from this government. So, this government’s point of view of pointing fingers at the previous governments is no longer valid. It is not valid. It is not fair. It is like hitting the ears of those who voted for them and waited for the JVP government for years. So now, they are being told to please stop that joke. This government is clearly feeding organized criminals. That is why they were able to enter the court and shoot? That is why they were able to throw away the two drug containers from the port. Who tell them that the letter was given and there is no drug in these two containers. Tell the person who gave the letter to release these two containers to come out. Why is he not coming because it was done by the government. Therefore, there is no point in blaming the previous government to cover up their mistakes. So we also ask the President to please stop that lie now and fulfill the reasons for which he came.
The life of MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala has been lost, he has been brutally murdered in broad daylight. The family of the person who was murdered feels the pain, the children understand the pain, the wife understands the pain. So, we will see to it that we support it and advise it and even violate the constitution. Those who celebrated by shouting and celebrating when they came out of the courtroom, now these twelve youths went to the polls on their own wrong advice and wrong actions to cover up their mistakes. It is not a matter of whether those twelve youths were completely justified or wrong. They were led. When those who led them became kings, today they have bought vehicles and gone abroad, bought houses abroad and become good businessmen and social media activists, the twelve young people who followed them will go to the police station and now it will not work to cry and incite those twelve.
This government should also pay attention to this when it incites its supporters against doctors, lawyers, the judicial system and state officials. Because the people make political decisions based on the future of the country and a long-term vision and with a program. So that is why the people make decisions at various times. But clearly, when you look at the way these organized criminals are operating and behaving in the country today, the people have the question of whether the minister in charge of the police in the government is not ruling this country or whether the police and law and order in this country are being enforced by organized criminals.
So, that’s why the government can’t easily wash its hands of this. I think either the minister in charge of the police should tell the country about this, that everyone in this is connected to organized criminals. That’s why this incident can’t be washed away. Either the minister wants to do the job, or if he can’t, he should leave.”
Rajapaksa concluded by reiterating that governance requires accountability, economic recovery, investor confidence, law and order, and national stability. According to him, continued blame-shifting only deepens public frustration in an already fragile political climate.
