Mahinda Kahandagama Is Not a Member of Our Party, Says Vasudeva Nanayakkara

09-Oct-2026

.

Mahinda Kahandagama has never been a member of the Democratic Left Front and was last associated with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), said Vasudeva Nanayakkara, leader of the Democratic Left Front and former minister.

He made these remarks at a press conference held in Colombo on 8 October 2026.

Addressing the media, Nanayakkara said that Kahandagama’s arrest and the allegations against him concerning drug trafficking had become matters of widespread public discussion. The SLPP’s general secretary had claimed that Kahandagama was not affiliated with the SLPP but belonged to Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s party. Nanayakkara said that only part of this claim was true.

“When we established the Nava Sama Samaja Party, our trade union was operating at a particular institution. Mahinda Kahandagama was among the workers who were dismissed following a strike at that institution. Although he subsequently contested a municipal council election under the banner of the People’s Alliance, he did so as a representative of the Nava Sama Samaja Party,” he said.

Nanayakkara added that Kahandagama later left the Nava Sama Samaja Party and began supporting the United National Party before subsequently associating himself with the SLPP.

“It is entirely incorrect to claim that he belongs to our Democratic Left Front today,” he said.

He further stated that Kahandagama had been among the group that left Temple Trees in 2022 to attack protesters during the public uprising. Kahandagama is also facing court proceedings in connection with the alleged attack.

“Our party never endorsed the operation to attack protesters by the group that left Temple Trees. Nor did our party participate in it in any way,” Nanayakkara said.