Colombo, Sept. 4, 2026 — The United National Party (UNP) has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the arrest of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, calling the move an assault on democratic rights.
According to the UNP, Rajapaksa’s arrest was directly linked to his role in organizing an SLPP public rally scheduled for September 12 in Anuradhapura. The party claimed the action was “abundantly clear” political interference aimed at obstructing legitimate political activity.
The statement emphasized that the democratic freedoms enjoyed by National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to travel the country and hold meetings must equally apply to Rajapaksa. “A modern, civilized society cannot in any way approve the act of stripping away such democratic rights,” the UNP said, adding that the Gen Z generation views such actions with “deep disgust.”
The party further accused the Maalimawa-led government of resorting to suppressive tactics as public support continues to decline. “These actions demonstrate that the administration is becoming increasingly helpless in the face of diminishing public backing,” the statement noted.
The UNP warned that arrests and intimidation cannot erode the public acceptance enjoyed by political leaders. “We strongly emphasize to the government that public support cannot be eliminated through detentions,” the statement concluded.
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