Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala told Parliament there is a sinister campaign aiming to create division and conflict between the North and the South of the country, highlighting the manipulative intent behind the false narratives. Making a special statement in Parliament on Wednesday (December 4), the Minister said an organised politically bankrupt group had orchestrated the campaign, confirming that investigations had identified their involvement. He said that several arrests have already been made in connection with the dissemination of false information which also includes a political activist from Boralesgamuwa who had contested the last general election under the Cylinder symbol.
The Minister said that the photographs from the past LTTE Mahaviru commemorations that were held even in other countries in 2017 and 2022 had been circulated on social media, to create the impression that similar events were taking place in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka in 2024 under the current administration. Minister Wijepala said of the 244 Mahaviru commemoration events held in the Northern Province from November 21 to 27, LTTE-related symbols were displayed at 10 of them.
The Police had taken action in response to these incidents. The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court had reported about two such incidents while the Point Pedro Magistrate’s Court had reported four similar incidents. In addition, the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court had reported one such incident. A person from Chunnakam had also been arrested for attempting to promote the LTTE.
Fake post on Mahaviru commemoration
Social activist Kelum Jayasumana who was arrested for sharing a post related to the Mahaviru commemoration on social media was granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (December 4). During the trial, the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told court that the suspect had downloaded and reposted a picture which was initially posted by a French woman on Facebook that contained proscribed symbols of the LTTE organisation. They said that this had disrupted public order and ethnic harmony, and that no such event had been held in the North. Since the investigation has not been completed, the officers of the CID requested that the suspect be further remanded.
Subsequently, Colombo Magistrate Thilina Gamage questioned the CID officers whether statements confirming that public order had been violated due to this act had been recorded and submitted to the court. In response, the CID officers said that no such statements had been recorded. Questioning how the suspect could be further remanded without evidence confirming that a public disturbance had occurred, the Magistrate said the suspects cannot be remanded further without proper evidence. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on two surety bails and ordered the case to be taken up again on April 3, 2025.
Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament on Wednesday (December 4), that a new political culture has emerged in the country and that is peace building and social cohesion. The country will never move forward unless there is an effort by the Government with peace building and social cohesion. Our international friends have worked with us so long providing us resources, sharing their knowledge and expertise. But how much have we achieved when it comes to social cohesion and peace building? We have not progressed that much. If that is the case then this society must reject all forms of racism outright.
But still we feel there are certain elements in the society who are continuing it because old habits die hard. Most of the Governments in power had only paid lip service to the concept of peace building and social cohesion. It was merely a show either to appease Geneva or to get a donation or just to plead some international donor. But this Government doesn’t consider peace building and social cohesion as a mere show. It is our main project and we will push Government policies forward to that end.
The Minister said, “We understand we are culturally different and we have different ethnic identities and cultural identities. We respect them all and the Government will make policies to encourage and preserve each other’s cultural identities. No matter how many laws you bring in and whatever the policies speak about to build peace, social cohesion and friendship, the bridge of friendship must be built first. It should start in our minds. Still, we geographically speak about the North and the South. That mindset has to be settled first and that is a serious problem. We are here to represent Sri Lankans of all ethnic origins, races and casts. No matter whatever the divisions, we have to create a unified Sri Lanka.
Social inclusion, gender equality and inclusive principles, respecting cultural diversity is essential. Otherwise, this country will not go forward. I am happy to say that my Ministry of National Integration takes this job seriously and encourages all those stakeholders in the Government as well as non-Government to be hopeful and work with us on peace building and social cohesion because this Government is very serious about it.”
Right to commemorate the dead
Minister Nanayakkara said some of these old habits die hard. As Minister Ananda Wijepala had told Parliament false information was circulated in the media about the Mahaviru commemorations held in the North. We admit the fact that in a civilised society the relatives of those who died have the right to commemorate them or invoke blessing on them. However, that did not happen when it came to the North. When we were in the Opposition we were subjected to state suppression and their stringent laws, violating our human rights. Therefore, as a party, we will not introduce any law to restrict the freedom of expression of the people or violate their rights to engage in politics. We govern with the mandate of the public will.
The law is not so essential to a Government which has a clear public mandate and we always appear on behalf of the people. There is an accepted law in the country. As a policy we admit that the PTA should be abolished. However, even in developed countries, they have legislation to face global terrorism. We should formulate a counter terrorism act to suit international best practices and definitions. Definition given to the word ‘terrorism’ in all those recently introduced bills had restricted the freedom of expression of the people which has been enshrined in the Constitution. Until we formulate new laws, if any form of racism or religious extremism emerges, we will have to deal with such incidents in keeping with the prevailing laws.
He said, “I admit the fact that freedom of expression is essential and this Government will take positive action to ensure that. However, the freedom of expression and committing a crime are two closely related facts. People can post anything on Facebook and that is their freedom of expression. However, Minister Ananda Wijepala had clearly explained what had really happened.
One person who had got involved in that incident was a DNF candidate. He had circulated fake social media posts on Mahaviru commemorations that were not held in the North. What is their ulterior motive? Is it just an attempt to exercise their right legally? Otherwise, is this an attempt to create a division and conflict between the North and the South, paving the way to emerge yet another ethnic conflict in the country?
I would like to appeal before writing songs and poems on the freedom of expression, please look into this aspect as well. We are new to govern but we are not new to politics. It is normal for the Opposition to test our strengths and limits from time to time and that is something we expect. They can clash with us ideologically and differ from us politically. We would respond to them democratically and politically. But any citizen in this country who thinks that race and religion could be used again for political gain, I tell you to think again and again.”
No racism or religious extremism
The Minister said, “This Government will not stand for racism or religious extremism in any form or the other. It will be defeated with whatever the laws we have enforced. If we are in the Government or the Opposition, we all are against racism and religious extremism. We all can join hands from that particular point but we will not be able to do so in some other matters. However, as the new Parliament, we all should join hands for this particular aspect by setting a new example.
Although we have different political ideologies, all MPs who represent this Parliament are against racism and religious extremism. If we can take this message to the bottom level, there will be true social cohesion and peace building. So, I am inviting all Parliamentarians to help the Government with that initiative. Yes, we can fight politics another day on another topic. But let’s unite for this because the country has suffered enough and more. Enough tears had been shed in the North and the South and enough blood had run through this land. It has to come to an end and that can only happen by respecting one another’s cultural identities and diversities.”
Minister Nanayakkara said the laws belong to the people and that laws are there to protect the people and their interest. Laws are essential for those who are marginalised, weak and poor. Our laws must focus not only on the making of them or even the implementation to make sure that their rights are protected. Three Bills, Proceeds of Crime Bill, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Bill and amendments to the Audit Act will be presented to Parliament in the first quarter of next year. The whole idea of this is to recover stolen assets, trace the proceeds of crimes with one law and to effectively deter money laundering, drug trafficking and all related vices.
The Audit Act and Insolvency Bill are there to improve the creditor’s confidence and to protect the debtor’s right to bring some uniformity and update. So, this Government is serious about what is said about it. Let’s build this country together. Let’s fight politics and that’s another matter. But I invite you all, let’s uphold the rule of law. There are so many law delays causing massive issues. Some of the delays are due to lack of resources and some human and technical errors. There are over one million court cases in the entire court system. At present, the ease of doing business in the country is very low-ranking and the rule of law far less.
SJB Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara told the Sunday Observer that his personal opinion is that nobody can prevent the right of a person to light a lamp in memory of a deceased person. Since 2009, we have been maintaining this stance. However, it was not allowed those days. These Mahaviru commemorations have been held since 2011. The issue is these commemorations are held during the Mahaviru week.
It was LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran who declared the Mahaviru week. Should these commemorations be held during the Mahaviru week? A circular has been issued in 2011 specifying guidelines as to how these commemorations should be held. A large number of Mahaviru commemorations were held by violating the guidelines in that particular circular. Except for two persons, those who violated the circular had not yet been arrested. However, a person in the South who shared information of those incidents took place in the North was arrested under the PTA. But those who violated the law have not been arrested.
Outdated law
It is completely wrong to arrest people under the PTA. The PTA is an outdated law in the country. I would like to say that anybody should not be arrested or detained under the PTA and it should be implemented equally to North and the South. However, the PTA is used to arrest people in the South and the ordinary law is used to deal with the incidents that take place in the North. This is the issue I raised in Parliament. As the JVP holds Il Maha Viru Samaruma to commemorate their fallen comrades, the people in the North also have the right to talk about the deaths of their people and conduct Mahaviru commemorations. We should also keep in mind that thousands of war heroes and police personnel sacrificed their lives to safeguard the motherland.
In addition, a large number of people had died and some became disabled due to LTTE bomb attacks. Therefore, they also might feel hurt when such incidents occur. I told Parliament that the Government should seriously consider this issue. There are some extremist groups in all parts of the country including North, East and the South. However, there is a law in the country to prevent any form of extremist acts and I would like to say that the law should be implemented equal to everybody.
The new political transformation in the North is a very positive development. The people in the North and the East who were trapped by Tamil and Muslim parties had voted for a national political party in the South. It is a very significant development and it was unable to do so over the past many years. I think it is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the trust and mandate given by the people in the North and the East.
