Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa this week denounced Israel’s assault on Gaza as a “genocide against the Palestinian people,” even as he continues to embrace Sri Lankan military commanders who conducted atrocities against Tamils during the final stages of the armed conflict.
Speaking in parliament, Premadasa described Israel’s offensive as a “grave violation of international law,” accusing it of targeting “children, mothers, and civilians” through hospital bombings and restrictions on food supplies. He claimed such actions amounted to “state terrorism” and must be condemned by all who stand for human rights.
Premadasa went on to accuse Israel of undermining peace efforts and violating UN resolutions, adding, “This is not just a political issue—it is a humanitarian crisis. We must not be afraid to take a clear stance for human rights.”
Yet, despite his rhetoric, Premadasa has consistently defended Sri Lanka’s own military leaders accused of war crimes, including those implicated in the shelling of hospitals, the killing of surrendering Tamils, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances during the Mullivaikkal genocide in 2009.
Under his leadership of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Premadasa appointed Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who commanded the army during the genocide of 2009, as party chairman, until Fonseka resigned this August to launch an independent presidential bid. He has also welcomed into the party Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, who headed the army’s Task Force 3 during the bloodbath at Mullivaikkal, as well as Lieutenant Colonel Rathnapriya Bandu, who served with the Special Forces before overseeing paramilitary operations in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu.
In another controversial move, Premadasa brought in Daya Ratnayake, a former army commander who continues to deny any war crimes took place, and Daya Sandagiri, a former naval chief once investigated over procurement scandals.
Far from distancing himself from the military, Premadasa has repeatedly pledged to shield those accused of grave violations. In 2019, he defended Shavendra Silva, who has been sanctioned by the United States and United Kingdom over rights abuse, declaring: “No matter what pressures, I will protect Shavendra Silva and he will continue as the Army Commander.”
Premadasa has also dismissed calls for international investigations into war crimes, insisting that Sri Lankan soldiers should be respected, not held accountable. His deference to Sinhala Buddhist nationalism has won him support from hardline clerics, with the Sangha Council granting him an honorary title for his “service to the Buddha Sasana.”
In the run-up to the 2019 presidential election, Premadasa courted nationalist support at Galle Face Green, declaring: “I will not allow any form of terrorism. We will eliminate all forms of terrorism.”
While presenting himself as an opponent of the Rajapaksas, Premadasa’s record demonstrates little substantive difference. His criticism of Israel for hospital bombings and civilian killings strikes a hollow note when set against his defence of Sri Lankan commanders accused of perpetrating the very same crimes against Tamils.
