Dissanayake pledges to tackle ‘controversial crimes' and shuns extremism in first address to parliament

In his first address to Sri Lanka’s newly elected Parliament, current president Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized a commitment to justice for "controversial crimes" and spoke out against religious extremism.

Opening the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament on Thursday, Dissanayake declared that there would be "no room for racial politics or religious extremism" under his administration. 

“I believe that for an extended period, the political framework in our country, and the bases of political power, were often shaped along regional, ethnic, or religious lines,2 he said.

“Such political divisions inevitably resulted in growing alienation among communities. Suspicion and mistrust between different groups grew. When racism becomes the cornerstone of a political ideology, the unavoidable outcome is the emergence of counter- racism from opposing groups. Racism in one part feeds and strengthens nationalism in another. This is a dynamic we have experienced throughout our country’s political and social history.”

He went on to state that “We are fully aware that there is a significant portion of the population who did not vote for us,” possibly referring to the Tamil North-East, the one area where his party did not receive more than 50% of the vote.

“It is the responsibility of our government to represent and address the needs and aspirations of all citizens, regardless of whether they voted for us or not.  Our commitment is to fulfil the expectations of every citizen of this nation.”

“While we may hold diverse political opinions, I assure you with full responsibility that we will not allow a resurgence of divisive racist politics in our country. Similarly, no form of religious extremism will be permitted to take root. Our nation has endured immense suffering due to ethnic conflicts. This soil has been soaked with enough blood, and rivers have flowed with the tears of countless people. Mistrust, suspicion, and anger among communities have grown to alarming levels.”

Dissanayake went on to state that “there have been controversial crimes that must be addressed”.

“If perpetrators believe that such crimes can be buried and forgotten over time, it only deepens the public’s distrust in the legal system,” he added.

“To restore this trust, crimes that fuelled controversy must be thoroughly investigated, justice must be served to the victims, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. These incidents cannot simply become political rhetoric for campaigns, as has often happened in the past. History shows that no state that failed to achieve justice for such crimes has succeeded in progressing.”

“I assure you that the crimes that fuelled controversy will be exposed, the perpetrators will face justice, and fairness will be ensured for the victims. We aim to establish a state where law, justice, and fairness prevail. If we fail to do so within this mandate, there is little point in dreaming of such a state in the future. Let us remember that the public mandate we have received is steeped in these expectations and yearnings for justice.”

“This mandate reflects the grief of families mourning their lost loved ones, the despair of friends of those murdered, and the cry for justice echoing throughout this country. If we fail to deliver justice, who else will? Who can we entrust this responsibility to? No one. If we do not fulfil this duty, the public’s dreams of justice and fairness will wither away. I believe that without action, even the faintest hopes for justice will vanish in this nation.”

“Justice and fairness must be re-established in this country. We must address not only these crimes but also the corruption and fraud that have contributed to our nation’s turmoil. By enforcing the law, reaffirming its supremacy, and restoring public trust, we can rebuild the foundation of justice. If we do not do it, then who will? This is the pressing question before us today.”

His remarks, though progressive, stand starkly at odds to his previous comments on justice and accountability – particularly for the Tamil genocide.

Tamil victims have demanded an internationalised accountability process to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable and finally deliver justice for the mass atrocities.

Dissanayake and the JVP have been firmly against such a move, with the JVP leader stating earlier this year he "will not seek to punish anyone accused of rights violations and war crimes".

“Even the victims do not expect anyone to be punished,” he claimed, despite Tamils repeatedly calling for an international accountability mechanism and for Sri Lanka to be taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Sri Lankan military massacred as many as 167,679 Tamils during the Mullivaikkal genocide. Food and medicine were embargoed, hospitals were repeatedly shelled, widespread sexual violence deployed and surrendering Tamils executed. Thousands more were disappeared, with their loved ones continuing to stage protests across the North-East, demanding answers and justice.

“The Parliament is not a hidden cave anymore,” Dissanayake continued, underscoring his intention to make legislative proceedings more transparent. “Daily proceedings are open to public scrutiny. As representatives of the people, everything we do—how we speak, how we behave—is under their watchful eye.”

He continued, adding that the public’s duty does not end with casting a vote. “They have the right to scrutinize us until the next mandate. I believe this Parliament is capable of passing such scrutiny,” Dissanayake said, outlining his vision.

In his address, he also touched on key economic measures. He promised a salary increase for all government employees, which will be included in the upcoming budget proposal.  Additionally, he also highlighted an increase in pension payments for senior citizens, revealing that a Rs. 3,000 increment had been added to all pensioners’ payments starting in October. 

Another key proposal mentioned was a rise in the amount allocated for the Aswesuma welfare benefit, a program aimed at tackling poverty. Dissanayake referred to this as a first step toward eradicating poverty in Sri Lanka, a promise that resonates with many in the country struggling with economic hardship. On the fiscal front, the Sri Lankan president outlined the timeline for the government’s budgetary processes. A vote on account will be presented in December 2024, with the full budget to be tabled by March 2025. It is yet to be seen if he will cut down on defence spending, which has traditionally dominated the budget.

Dissanayake also addressed Sri Lanka’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the country’s economic recovery, expressing optimism that the staff-level agreement for the third review of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) would be finalized and signed by December 23, 2024.

Read the full text of his speech here.