Jayam Ravi criticised for meeting Sri Lankan foreign minister accused of genocide denial

Kollywood actor and producer Jayam Ravi has come under criticism after meeting with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, a key figure in the current government who has openly denied the Tamil genocide and threatened legal action against those who use the term.

The meeting, held as part of a tourism and cultural promotion initiative, was described by Herath as “groundbreaking” and aimed at boosting “film tourism” in Sri Lanka. The minister revealed that discussions were held with Ravi - formerly known by his stage name Jayam Ravi - and singer Kenishaa Francis about launching joint film productions and musical events on the island.

“These initiatives are set to boost Sri Lanka’s film tourism, promote our rich cultural heritage, and bring captivating stories and electrifying performances to iconic Sri Lankan locations,” Herath said in a social media post.

However, Ravi’s engagement with the minister has drawn criticism from Tamil activists, who condemned the actor for aligning with a regime accused of war crimes and ongoing rights abuses in the North-East.

“It’s disappointing that such a popular actor like Jayam Ravi has chosen to indulge a state that has massacred countless Tamils,” said Moorthy, a British Tamil activist, who did not want his real name revealed due to fear of reprisal on his family by the Sri Lankan state. "Particularly with someone like Herath, who continues to play a leading role in genocide denial and refusing justice for our loved ones.”

Herath, who currently serves as the foreign minister under Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration, has continued to maintain a hardline stance on accountability for mass atrocities. In recent weeks, he threatened to take legal action against those who describe the mass slaughter of Tamils during the final stages of the armed conflict as “genocide.” His remarks sparked outrage, particularly among Tamils who have long campaigned for international justice and recognition of the genocide.

Jayam Ravi’s collaboration with Herath comes amid sustained Tamil calls to boycott Sri Lanka’s cultural partnerships with the state, particularly while the island remains heavily militarised and Tamil demands for justice remain unaddressed.

The actor’s visit also risks helping whitewash Sri Lanka’s international image, critics say, by endorsing state-backed efforts to rebrand the island as a cultural and tourist hub without confronting its ongoing repression of Tamil voices. Despite the armed conflict having officially ended in 2009, the Sri Lankan military continues to occupy large swathes of Tamil land, and Tamil civil society faces frequent surveillance, harassment, and arbitrary detention.

While Ravi has built a reputation as a versatile performer in the Tamil film industry, his engagement with a government widely accused of shielding perpetrators of mass atrocities has alarmed many of his fans and observers.