Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe accuses government of undermining democracy and condemns arrest of Namal Rajapaksa

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has accused the government of undermining Sri Lanka’s democratic system and people’s sovereignty, while strongly condemning the arrest and remand of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

Speaking as the United National Party marked 80 years since its founding on 6 September 1946, Wickremesinghe stated that the party's upcoming programme would focus on protecting national sovereignty and safeguarding the constitutional rights of citizens.

He recalled that the United National Party was established under the leadership of Don Stephen Senanayake, with Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike proposing Senanayake's name, and noted that Don Alwin Rajapaksa—the grandfather of Namal Rajapaksa—was also among the founding members.

Wickremesinghe announced that the United National Party will begin a series of commemorative events this month, including tributes to former President Junius Richard Jayewardene, before holding a party convention in December.

He stated that the convention will present a modernised party featuring updated policies and new faces suited to build Sri Lanka for the 21st century.

Turning to constitutional matters, Wickremesinghe emphasised that Article 3 of the Constitution establishes that sovereignty resides inalienably with the people, reiterating the party's opposition to the proposed 22nd Amendment on the grounds that it requires approval through a national referendum.

The former President alleged that political arrests, restrictions targeting political entities, and verbal attacks on independent professional bodies—including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, medical professionals, and the Buddhist clergy—pose a grave threat to democracy.

Questioning whether the country is being governed from Parliament or from Pelawatte, Wickremesinghe called on political and civil society groups to unite in defence of public sovereignty while explicitly expressing his opposition to the arrest and detention of Namal Rajapaksa at Welikada Prison.