We Will Never Submit to Anura's Repression: Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
13-Sep-2026.
Members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna jointly declared that they would never submit to what they described as the repression of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. They stated that they had begun, from the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the campaign to make Namal Rajapaksa President at the 2029 Presidential Election and that they would unite all forces opposed to the Government.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's “People's Struggle” was held in Anuradhapura on 11 September under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Members of Parliament including Archuna Ramanathan, D. V. Chanaka and Chanaka Madhugoda, former Ministers including Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Tiran Alles and Ramesh Pathirana, and Lakshman Yapa, as well as electoral organisers of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and political figures including its General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, participated in the gathering.
Members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna strongly criticised the Government, alleging that the national agricultural sector had declined since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to power, that political victimisation had intensified and that everyone acting against the Government was being arrested.
They stated that Namal Rajapaksa had been arrested because he was functioning as the true Opposition leader among the people. They described the arrest as temporary and stated that they would definitely make Namal Rajapaksa President, adding that they would launch the campaign for this purpose from Anuradhapura.
Addressing the gathering, Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the National Freedom Front, stated that although there were differences in political principles, everyone would unite whenever there was a problem. He alleged that the Government was acting by advancing the objectives of the LTTE and was therefore acting against Sinhala nationalism.
He stated that the time had come for everyone to unite to eliminate the Government's authoritarian approach and that the challenges could be confronted only through unity.
Udaya Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, stated that while claiming that it was pursuing corrupt individuals, the President was fully protecting corrupt persons within the Government. He further alleged that through the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, the Government was also seeking to take control of the judiciary and that this would amount to a death blow to democracy.
Sagara Kariyawasam, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, stated that Namal Rajapaksa had been arrested specifically to prevent his political rise.
He called upon all forces to unite against what he described as the Government's authoritarian approach.
