Namal Rajapaksa prison letter read at the Jana Satana rally attacks the government over living costs, jobs, law and constitutional reform.
The Namal Rajapaksa prison letter was read before thousands gathered at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s “Jana Satana” rally in Anuradhapura.
Rajapaksa, the SLPP National Organizer and parliamentarian currently in remand custody, sent the message to the mass rally held yesterday, September 12, at the Anuradhapura Municipal Council Stadium.
Former Parliamentarian Sanjeewa Edirimanna read the full message from the stage.
In the letter, Rajapaksa criticised the government over the cost of living, taxation, employment, constitutional reform and what he described as political revenge. The following is the message in its original letter format.
Venerable Sirs,
All religious clergy,
Beloved parents,
Sons and daughters,
Brothers and sisters, friends,
Accept my heartfelt gratitude with love…
I see you through the iron bars of the Colombo Remand Prison. From here, I feel the warmth of the affectionate brotherhood you continue to show me.
Your enthusiastic support brings me great happiness. I face this difficult moment with strength. It is a blessing to lead a political movement alongside heroes such as you.
The Jana Satana mass rally will mark a decisive new beginning in this country’s people’s struggle. We are entering what I believe is the most just political struggle of this era. I know you will agree with me.
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The Morning Telegraph • September 13, 2026 • 5 min readThe Lesson of Becoming Stronger Through Challenges
A great world leader, Nelson Mandela, wrote in a letter from his prison cell on Robben Island: “Difficulties break some men but make others.”
Difficulties break some people. But difficulties also build people.
We are people who have grown stronger and stronger through difficulties. My father taught me the lesson of becoming stronger when confronting challenges.
Governance cannot ignore respect for the people’s mandate, accountability to policies or the responsibility to explain decisions.
But this government has no such ethics.
The current compass government does not do what it says. Instead, it does what it never said it would do.
It ignores the genuine aspirations of the country and civil society. This destroys policy credibility within the political system.
Promises and the Economic Reality on the Ground
One-third of this government’s term has now passed.
The developed economy, comfortable life and new social and political transformation it claimed to deliver remain fiction.
The compass government has failed to provide a fair response to the appeals of citizens.
You have not forgotten the inferior substitute name this government gave farmers who demanded justice for their sweat and labour.
Have you ever heard of a government shutting down an institution as its response to workers engaged in a struggle based on fair demands?
Should a government that made so many false promises about fuel prices, electricity bills, paddy prices and rice prices continue to remain in power?
The government promised to reduce the tax burden. It also promised to remove taxes from food and school equipment. Today, it appears not to care about any of those promises.
The cost of living remains unbearable.
The unlimited tax burden has paralysed daily public life and the entire economic body of the country.
Small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, industrialists, farmers, fishermen and workers are struggling. State and private sector employees are also in extreme difficulty.
The government does nothing for social justice.
The government is rich. The citizens are poor.
A developed economy and comfortable public life cannot be created only through a primary account balance or budget surplus.
Modern society measures development and progress through the living conditions of citizens, not merely through macroeconomic figures.
Rule of Law and the Constitutional Crisis
Friends, the political strongmen of this government appear to be above the law.
The principle that no one is above the law is no longer valid under this administration.
This government has completely politicised state investigative institutions.
Serious allegations have been raised against the government and powerful figures connected to it. However, no acceptable or fair investigation appears to be taking place concerning those allegations.
Those accused remain free while enjoying the political protection of the government.
This government promised to draft a new constitution and submit it to the people through a referendum.
It also promised to abolish the executive presidency, create a parliamentary system led by a prime minister and introduce a new electoral system.
The government also remains criminally silent on provincial council elections.
Ignoring justice, fairness, the rule of law and democratic principles, the government has instead brought forward a new constitutional amendment.
It has not provided an acceptable or fair explanation for why such an amendment is necessary.
Boasting that “we will do it no matter who opposes” is not democracy.
Should we allow this government’s mad behaviour to continue?
Youth Aspirations and Cultural Coexistence
When examining our population data, we can see a relative increase in the youth population.
That means hundreds of thousands of young people are waiting with hope to enter the employment market.
The compass government has failed to understand this aspiration.
It has no proper programme to create new jobs.
State investment has been abandoned. Private investment has been discouraged. The government’s tax policy has also contributed to this situation.
The government appears to have no feeling for the hopes of young people that are being destroyed.
Because families are struggling with the cost of living, higher education opportunities are also disappearing for many young people.
We must also understand what I regard as the subtle cultural attack of the compass government.
People want to live together while protecting their own identities.
However, the government does not have an advanced approach towards reconciliation.
Its approach towards ethnic harmony and religious coexistence remains deeply inadequate.
Our Determination Cannot Be Imprisoned
Beloved parents, brothers and sisters,
I will never submit to the government’s mad political power.
Nor am I afraid.
Our determination cannot be imprisoned.
We have no hatred towards anyone. But we must fight against this social, economic and political catastrophe.
Let us move forward with unwavering faith in victory.
Let us fight fearlessly and courageously.
That is the responsibility entrusted to us on behalf of those already born and those yet to be born. We cannot abandon it.
Let us build a massive people’s force capable of overcoming every challenge.
Let us remain peaceful.
Let us maintain discipline.
Let us respect the law.
Let us bring this historic people’s struggle to a victorious conclusion.
I request you once again to accept my heartfelt gratitude with love.
Namal Rajapaksa
From the Colombo Remand Prison
