Former Sri Lankan president and war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa has accused the government of failing to give Buddhism its “due distinction”, warning that public anger will be visible at a rally scheduled for 21 November.
Speaking to reporters, Rajapaksa said the administration “shows no regard for the Buddhist doctrine” and argued that the government’s conduct had eroded confidence among its Sinhala Buddhist support base. He claimed the rally would demonstrate the scale of opposition building against the government.
Rajapaksa's remarks come after controversy around the installation of a Buddha statue in Trincomalee this week, a move seen as part of the longstanding Sinhala Buddhist colonisation of the Tamil homeland.
Rajapaksa also raised concerns over what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding agreements signed with foreign countries. He insisted that the secrecy around these dealings had heightened mistrust and contributed to a growing sense of national unease.
