Sri Lanka’s United National Party (UNP) has questioned Anura Kumara Dissanayake over his congratulatory message to newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, claiming the move raised concerns regarding diplomatic protocol.
According to Sri Lankan media reports, the UNP stated that it was “surprised” that the Sri Lankan president had extended personal congratulations to the chief minister of an Indian state.
The party reportedly argued that such congratulatory messages are generally reserved for fellow Heads of State rather than provincial or state-level political leaders from another country.
The UNP also questioned why Dissanayake had not issued similar congratulatory messages to other recently elected Indian state leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Dissanayake had earlier congratulated Vijay following his swearing-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, describing Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu as being connected through “history, culture, enterprise, and enduring people-to-people ties across generations.”
He had further stated that the future held “immense economic promise and opportunity” as Sri Lanka and India continued to strengthen bilateral ties and partnership.
Dissanayake also expressed his willingness to work together “towards greater prosperity and progress” within the broader framework of India-Sri Lanka relations.
Chief Minister Vijay later responded publicly, thanking Dissanayake for the message and appreciating the congratulatory wishes.
The exchange came at a politically sensitive moment, as relations between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka continue to be shaped by longstanding issues surrounding Eelam Tamils, Katchatheevu and the repeated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Vijay’s election victory has been closely watched across the Tamil homeland, with several Eelam Tamil political representatives welcoming his rise to power and expressing hope that his administration would strengthen support for the political aspirations and rights of Eelam Tamils.
The Tamil National Council, led by parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, recently urged Vijay’s government to adopt a Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution reaffirming that the atrocities committed against Eelam Tamils constituted genocide and calling for an international criminal investigation.