
Former Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe has called for the preservation of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s body for public display after his demise, in a way to honour his legacy despite the massacres he oversaw.
Speaking to the media, Rajapakshe argued that such a gesture would honour Rajapaksa’s legacy, claiming that his leadership ended Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war.
Rajapakshe compared Rajapaksa’s legacy to historical figures such as Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin and Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, whose bodies were preserved and displayed as symbols of their significance to their respective nations. “The former President Rajapaksa deserves such recognition to honour his legacy for future generations,” he stated.
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as president saw tens of thousands of Tamils massacred, human rights violations, and mass atrocities. These atrocities, carried out by the Sri Lankan military under Rajapaksa’s leadership, remain unaccounted for, and calls for justice persist to this day.
Tamil families of the disappeared, along with political parties and civil society organisations, continue to protest in the North-East, demanding answers about their loved ones and justice for the genocide Despite these unresolved issues, Rajapaksa and his family continue to be celebrated by Sinhala nationalists as war heroes.
Ajith Rajapakshe expressed concern that the current National People Power (NPP) government is attempting to diminish Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legacy. He urged the authorities to safeguard the former president’s reputation, claiming that his contributions deserve to be honoured. “The government must ensure the security and respect of the former President’s contributions to the nation,” he said.
The Rajapaksa family ruled Sri Lanka with impunity for years, benefiting from a political climate that allowed them to avoid accountability for their actions. Now out of office however, the current government has begun investigations into reports of corruption and financial irregularities. Several Rajapaksa family members have faced arrest or questioning in recent weeks alone.