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Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has once again pledged to defend Buddhism as central to the island’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, underscoring his alignment with Sinhala Buddhist nationalism.
Speaking at the Sri Vipashyarama Purana Viharaya in Maharagama on 13 September, Premadasa declared,
“It is the bounden duty of every Sri Lankan to safeguard Buddhism in the country. This responsibility is clearly enshrined in our supreme law and the Constitution. At the same time, it is equally important to protect and respect people of other religious and ethnic groups.”
Premadasa went on to insist that protecting Buddhism was essential to preserving the sovereignty of the state, adding that citizens must “advance the enlightened state of Buddhism” through their actions.
The remarks were made during the inaugural ceremony of the temple’s annual perahera, where Premadasa presided over the placing of the Golden Casket on the back of a tusker. The event was attended by a large number of MPs and ministers.
His comments come just days after he described Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza as “genocide against the Palestinian people”, a statement that drew attention to the contradictions in his political stance. While condemning atrocities abroad, Premadasa continues to court Sinhala Buddhist nationalists at home, repeatedly defending Sri Lankan war criminals and opposing any international role in investigating the genocide of Tamils.
Premadasa’s speech is another reminder of how Sinhala leaders remain bound to Sinhala Buddhist supremacy. Enshrined in the constitution and reinforced by political leaders across the spectrum, this framework has long underpinned Colombo’s policies repression in the North-East.
