Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam paid tribute to the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and spoke on the hypocrisy of the current government as they pay respects to leaders of the liberation movement in the North-East but speak against Tamil aspirations in the south.
The JVP, which is part of Sri Lanka’s current National People’s Power (NPP) government, vehemently opposed the 2002 ceasefire agreement and mobilised against the internationally backed peace process. In 2005, the party backed Mahinda Rajapaksa – a central architect of the Tamil genocide – in the presidential election. Throughout the years that followed, the JVP publicly pushed for a military solution to the armed struggle, advocating the all-out assault that led to mass civilian killings in the No Fire Zones.
“இன்று ஈ. ழத்தமிழ் தேசத்தினுடைய தேசியத்தலைவர் மாத்திரமல்ல உலகத்தமிழர்களுடைய தலைவராக இருக்கக்கூடிய தலைவர் பி. ரபாகரனுடைய 71 வது பிறந்ததினம்”
— தமிழ் மதி (@tamilmathy1996) November 27, 2025
-நாடாளுமன்றில் கஜேந்திரகுமார் பொன்னம்பலம் -@GGPonnambalam pic.twitter.com/VPpYO73buX
"Today is the 71st birthday of the Leader Prabhakaran, who is not only the national leader of the Eelam Tamil nation, but also a leader admired by Tamil individuals around the world. Among the groups that severely twisted and degraded the national leader’s struggle before and even after 2009, the JVP is the one that has now risen to hold a significant position in the current government. When Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration speaks, it is clear that the JVP was prepared.
The preparation was almost aligned with ethnic destruction, supporting the effort to wipe out the liberation struggle led by the national leader and acting against the whole Tamil community.
Despite all this, today in the North-East, a situation has emerged where they feel compelled to show respect to the fighters who continue the national leader’s legacy, to pay respects at the Maaveerar memorials and Thuyilum illams. They want to demonstrate to the Tamil people of the north east that they are willing to take such actions; however, in the South, they express completely opposing views. Amongst those involved in these events is our Fisheries Minister who is an important figure because he personally attended and paid respects to Thiyaga Theepam Thileepan.
What this all reveals is that groups like JVP, who once held anti-Tamil ideologies, are now finding themselves unable to enter the North East unless they speak in some way that acknowledges or accommodates the national leader and the Maaveerar. This is especially true after the leader’s struggle was silenced. This highlights the extent to which groups that were ideologically hostile to Tamil nationalism have been defeated today."