A fiery press conference in Colombo has reignited Sri Lanka’s political debate, with Dilith Jayaweera accusing the Prime Minister of deliberately fueling ethnic narratives while insisting ordinary citizens remain united.
Sarva Jana Bala Party leader and MP Dilith Jayaweera has alleged that Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is attempting to manufacture racial tension in Sri Lanka despite what he describes as a largely united society. Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, the MP claimed that public discourse under the current administration has become dominated by repeated references to racism and minority politics.
He argued that the Prime Minister’s emphasis on internationalism has influenced her political outlook, suggesting that she views Sri Lanka through a global ideological lens rather than a local social context. According to him, the repeated references to racism by government leaders, including during Independence Day speeches before foreign ambassadors, risk misrepresenting the country’s social harmony on an international stage.
Jayaweera further contended that the majority of Sri Lankans, including Buddhists and minority communities, have not demonstrated widespread racial hostility. He questioned who exactly is being labeled as racist and called on the government to clearly identify what it defines as extremism or communal division.
Referring to past political rhetoric and the country’s war history, he criticized what he described as selective narratives about nationalism and internationalism. He maintained that the people of Sri Lanka are more united than political rhetoric suggests and warned against what he termed the politicization of ethnic discourse.
The MP concluded by urging leaders to focus on national unity, governance reform, and economic stability rather than amplifying divisive themes in public debate.
