Namal Rajapaksa says court decisions are now being delivered from the JVP stage, accusing the President of hiding public problems.
Namal Rajapaksa has accused the JVP stage of being used to deliver court decisions, claiming that this became clear during the May Day rally.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organizer and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa made the remarks while speaking to journalists in Kalutara today, where he strongly criticized President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the government’s May Day messaging.
“We only found out on May Day that court decisions are given from the JVP stage. That was confirmed that day. So if the President thinks that he can deliver court verdicts from the JVP stage and sweep people’s problems under the rug, let’s see about that,” Namal Rajapaksa said.
Speaking further, Rajapaksa said that even when the JVP had only three percent support, they filled Galle Face and held meetings. However, he said the public is now waiting to see whether the government will fulfill the promises it made during the election period.
He said that if the government cannot fulfill its promises, holding May Day rallies and scolding the Rajapaksas would not work.
“As the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, we did not hold May Day rallies because it was a Poya day. We performed religious observances at temples. But one unforgettable phrase from the JVP’s May Day rally was ‘Rajapaksas and Pohottuwa.’ That alone shows what their mindset is,” he said.
Rajapaksa alleged that the President did not use the May Day stage to speak about strengthening the state machinery for workers’ rights, improving services for workers, encouraging workers, or building the country’s economy.
Instead, he claimed, the President used the stage to speak about jailing political opponents.
“The President got onto the May Day stage and talked about how to put us in jail. Shameful! This is where the position of Executive President of this country has fallen. Do people who hear such things need to come to a May Day rally? The President is still saying the same things he said when he was in opposition,” Rajapaksa said.
However, questions remain over whether May Day political rhetoric will deepen the confrontation between the government and opposition, especially as legal and corruption-related issues continue to dominate public debate.
Rajapaksa repeated that what he learned on May Day was that court decisions are now being announced from the JVP stage. He said that if the President believes he can pronounce court verdicts from a political platform and hide the problems of the people, the opposition would respond.
He also referred to social media reports claiming that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been summoned for questioning over an alleged bribery-related matter.
“There was news on social media that Mr. Mahinda has been summoned for an interview regarding a bribe. A written letter hasn’t arrived yet. Generally, if they post such things on their connected social media, there might be a letter on the way,” he said.
According to Namal Rajapaksa, social media reports and other information suggest that Mahinda Rajapaksa is being questioned over what he described as a forced confession.
He claimed that the person who recorded the statement had also submitted an affidavit saying it was obtained under force.
“So they have threatened someone to obtain a statement from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and recorded one. Mr. Mahinda has answered far worse things than this,” he said.
Rajapaksa then accused the government of misleading the public over price increases.
“The day before yesterday, they said they wouldn’t increase prices, but by the time they went home after May Day, they had increased them. So, if you want to know that the government lies, just know that if they say they won’t increase prices, they definitely will increase them,” he said.
This raises concerns about whether the opposition will use the government’s May Day speeches, price decisions, and legal actions as part of a wider campaign to challenge the administration.
Rajapaksa said the SLPP still has faith in the country’s judicial system. He said that although the President had allegedly given court decisions from the JVP stage on May Day, he believed the Honourable Judges would be mindful of the situation.
He also alleged that the police had been completely “JVP-ized.”
Referring to a recent death, Rajapaksa said that even before anyone could ask questions, and even before the death report had come out, the police had said it was a suicide.
“We don’t know what the police’s hurry is, to speak before even being asked. We are also investigating these matters; there is suspicion about these things,” he said.
Rajapaksa said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna would face any challenge strongly and continue politics with the people.
“As a party, we will face any challenge strongly and we conduct politics with the people. Because our politics is with the people of this country. We are a party that has stood up for the people. A populist political party,” he said.
He added that the party would continue to grow stronger with the people in the future.
According to Rajapaksa, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna has now become the strongest political party at the grassroots level.
What happens next could be critical, as his remarks signal a sharper political battle over judicial independence, police conduct, price increases, and the government’s use of political platforms to target the opposition.
