Government Attempting to Intimidate Judiciary: Namal Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has accused the government of attempting to intimidate the Attorney General’s Department and the judiciary in order to advance its political agenda.

Speaking to the media at Nelum Mawatha yesterday, Rajapaksa said he was confident that the Attorney General’s Department and the judicial system would not bow to political pressure. He criticised the current administration’s performance, remarking that it had “passed five classes but failed six years,” referring to what he described as governance failures.

Rajapaksa alleged that the government was deliberately fostering divisions by encouraging hostility against political parties, state institutions, and public officials. He further claimed that recent actions pointed to attempts at creating ethnic discord, which he said was part of the President’s political strategy and no longer acceptable to the public.

Addressing religious and cultural matters, the SLPP MP accused the government of undermining religious harmony, particularly in the North and South. He emphasised that SLPP politics did not promote racism and maintained that the party had consistently protected all religions equally, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Islam.

He cited actions taken during previous administrations to protect religious sites and ensure freedom of worship as evidence of inclusive governance. Rajapaksa also criticised what he described as the selective application of the law, alleging that different standards were being applied to religious leaders, police officers, and other groups.

In addition, Rajapaksa accused the government of turning a blind eye to environmental violations while misusing state institutions to achieve political objectives. He claimed that criticism of religious leaders was being used to distance the public from religion and cultural identity.

Referring to development projects, Rajapaksa said several initiatives launched during the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa were now being completed after delays caused by changes in government, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis. He added that he welcomed the completion of these projects, regardless of who officially inaugurated them.

Concluding his remarks, Rajapaksa warned that attempts to politicise investigations and influence legal processes through false evidence would seriously undermine the rule of law. He recalled past allegations of politicisation in judicial appointments and transfers, stressing that any pressure on the Attorney General or judiciary would damage public trust in the legal system.