Media Releases

The National Peace Council welcomes the government’s decision to allow a two month period of public consultation on the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act, intended to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Given Sri Lanka’s long and painful experience with national security legislation, this consultation period will provide a valuable opportunity to prevent the repetition of past mistakes. Meaningful public engagement prior to the enactment of a new anti-terrorism law is essential if the promise of system change is to be realised and if Sri Lanka is to avoid entrenching yet another draconian law whose consequences may be felt for decades to come.

The government is proceeding with its plans to hold Sri Lankan Day celebrations on December 12-14 in Colombo as a national platform to bring every community together. The event, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, aims to promote unity. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent outreach to Tamil and Muslim political parties to brief them on the preparations for Sri Lankan Day is a constructive step. Engagement of this nature strengthens trust and widens the sense of collective ownership.

Sri Lanka stands at a moment when political intent, social demand, and institutional opportunity align. The people have given the new government a decisive majority and a clear mandate for change. With a two-thirds majority in Parliament, a largely cooperative opposition, and an expectant population, the government now has a unique opportunity to deliver on its promises of system change and to move forward on long-delayed justice and reconciliation.

The long festering controversy over the installation of wind turbines on Mannar Island has taken a turn for the worse with mass demonstrations and a hartal taking place. The escalation has followed police forcibly removing protestors, including Catholic priests and women seated on the road preventing the transport of machinery to the proposed site. The National Peace Council expresses its concern at the situation and actions taken which have led to more polarization on the issue.

As Sri Lanka prepares to appear before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this September under Resolution 51/2, the government will need to show more than promises. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s 2025 report recognises that the new government has both a historic opportunity and a clear mandate to deliver results. The continuation of arbitrary arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, custodial deaths, intimidation of civil society and the discovery of mass graves such as at Chemmani the UN report highlights shows the urgency of action.

Forty-two years after the violence of Black July, Sri Lanka continues to live in the shadow of unacknowledged violence that shattered the lives of thousands of Tamil families. Homes were burned, livelihoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Starting from Colombo, the riots and violence spread countrywide. Hundreds of innocent people were killed. Tens of thousands displaced. But there has still been no full accounting, no official truth, no justice, and no assurance that it will not happen again. The National Peace Council (NPC) marks this anniversary not only to mourn the victims, but to affirm that there can be no lasting reconciliation without first confronting the past and finding a political solution that addresses the roots of the problem.

We mourn the passing of Dr. Norbert Ropers, a visionary peacebuilder, trusted friend, and devoted practitioner of nonviolence, whose profound commitment to dialogue and reconciliation helped shape more humane and inclusive futures across divided societies. His work, especially in Sri Lanka, left an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals and communities striving for justice and peace.

The peaceful and orderly conduct of the recently concluded local government elections which were held without the large-scale abuses of state power or otherwise that marred previous electoral cycles has marked a refreshing change from the past. It demonstrates a commendable commitment by the present government to uphold electoral integrity and democratic norms. We congratulate the ruling party for emerging as the largest party across the country in 267 out of the 339 local government bodies in which polls were held with an absolute majority in 120. The test of statesmanship will be how the government forms its majorities in the local authorities and deals equitably with opposition led ones.

Sri Lanka has received a breathing space of three months to negotiate with the US government regarding tariffs to be imposed on Sri Lankan exports which is of utmost importance as the US is Sri Lanka’s largest export market. Sri Lanka faces a similar challenge to protect its export markets with regard to the EU, which is currently favouring Sri Lanka with its GSP Plus tariff concession. This tariff reduction is conditional on Sri Lanka’s adherence to 27 specified human rights conventions. Sri Lankans, including the political leadership, should come to terms with the fact that we need to have cooperative relations with major powers, whether it is America, China, Europe or India.

The UK government’s decision to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals, including three former military commanders, has ignited significant debate. This move comes at a time when large-scale violence continues unchecked in other parts of the world, raising concerns about the application of different standards to different countries. As a non-partisan civil society organization, the National Peace Council (NPC) asserts that the pursuit of truth and accountability must be universal and free from political motivations. Justice cannot be applied selectively. It is needed as much in Mullivaikkal and Batalanda where the violations took place 16 to 37 years ago, as it is in Palestine and Ukraine where they are taking place today.

Since the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka has faced persistent scrutiny at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva over its handling of post-war reconciliation. Key concerns include missing persons, human rights violations, war crimes, land occupation, and the continued military presence in the north and east. Addressing the UNHRC earlier this week, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to independent and credible domestic mechanisms within the constitutional framework to address these challenges. He said “Domestic institutions such as the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), Office for Reparations, and Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) will be strengthened.”

The government’s success at the presidential and general elections, which saw significant support from ethnic and religious minorities, highlights its mandate to address long-standing grievances. The predominantly Tamil and Muslim electorate in the north and east entrusted the government with resolving their issues directly. This trust needs to be met with tangible action.

The National Peace Council (NPC) extends its congratulations to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People's Power (NPP) on their election victory, which secured a two-thirds majority in parliament. This overwhelming mandate reflects the trust placed in the president and his party to lead the country towards economic development, justice, and reconciliation.

In his election manifesto, as well as in his election campaign, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to take forward the national reconciliation process through several measures, including implementation of the 13th Amendment. His election manifesto commits the government to conduct provincial council elections within a year “to provide an opportunity for the people to join the governance.”

As the presidential election campaign draws to a close, the focus must shift from electoral competition to the urgent challenges facing the country. While the election outcome remains uncertain, what is clear is that the next president will inherit a country grappling with economic instability and deep-rooted problems of impunity and corruption. A pressing challenge that also needs to be at the forefront of the government that is formed is the need to resolve the long-standing ethnic conflict through a sustainable political solution based on the devolution of power. The new president must prioritize this issue to bring lasting peace and unity to the country.

Position Paper by Members of Religious and Civil Society and the Academic Community from all parts of the country to Presidential Candidates seeking their Commitment to Resolving Sri Lanka’s Ethnic Problem