The President acknowledged the scars left by the decades-long civil conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatist groups, which ended in 2009 after more than 30 years of violence.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for national unity and reconciliation between the country’s North and South, urging all ethnic groups to work together to create a peaceful, war-free future for the next generation. Speaking at a rally in Jaffna, in the Northern province, Dissanayake emphasized the importance of overcoming past divisions and building a united Sri Lanka.
“We must move forward together as one nation, with the North and South working hand in hand, to ensure a country without war,” Dissanayake told the crowd. “This is the responsibility of our generation.”
The President acknowledged the scars left by the decades-long civil conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatist groups, which ended in 2009 after more than 30 years of violence. He spoke poignantly of the pain, loss, and trauma caused by the war, noting that families had been torn apart and many lives lost.
“We have to build a country without war for the next generation. The distrust and anger that have lingered between the Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims must be eradicated,” Dissanayake said. “The National People’s Power (NPP) will work to unite this nation.”
In his address, Dissanayake stressed that the NPP would take deliberate and incremental actions to rebuild trust among the country’s communities. He vowed that the government would work to create an environment in which all Sri Lankans would feel they were equally represented and valued.
“We will act step by step so that the people will feel this is their government,” he promised, outlining his vision for a future in which all communities could live in peace and harmony.
Political Prisoners
As part of this reconciliation effort, President Dissanayake committed to creating a “free and peaceful environment” in the Northern region, which had been deeply affected by the war. He specifically addressed the issue of land that had been taken over by the government during and after the conflict, stating that this land would gradually be returned to its rightful owners.
“There was a war, and during that time, many things happened that should not have,” Dissanayake explained. “We will ensure that land is released back to its rightful owners, step by step.”
The President also pledged to address the ongoing issue of political prisoners, many of whom are still incarcerated following the war. Dissanayake assured the audience that those who had been unjustly imprisoned would be released as part of the NPP’s commitment to national healing and justice.
“There cannot be a mentality of half-free individuals,” Dissanayake declared. “We must build a country where freedom is enjoyed equally by all its citizens.”
With his message of unity and justice, President Dissanayake emphasized that true reconciliation could only be achieved when all ethnic groups—Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims—could work together in peace, leaving the shadows of war behind.
A source close to the President said that President Dissanayake’s comments reflect the NPP’s broader vision for a more inclusive and peaceful Sri Lanka, where the wounds of the past are healed through mutual understanding and cooperation.
