Never Again: Racism Rejected In Jaffna

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has received a clear, unequivocal message: there is absolutely no space for the return of racial conflict. 

In a nationally framed address, Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored the need to build a country grounded in unity, brotherhood, and mutual respect, insisting that no form of racism will be allowed to rise again anywhere.

The President cautioned that “small sparks” of ethnic tension have appeared in pockets across the country—particularly around religious sites. 

A notable pattern was highlighted on Poya days, when some individuals reportedly bypass numerous temples and even the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi to travel to Jaffna to observe sil.

The President noted that these journeys are not motivated by religious observance but by hostility, with gatherings near temples allegedly organized to inflame racial sentiment, not to contest land disputes.

In response, intelligence units have been instructed to verify whether the recurring agitators have any ownership or legitimate ties to the areas where they appear during Poya. 

The move aims to differentiate genuine local grievances from orchestrated provocations.

The President also alleged that groups who have lost political power are attempting to revive racism in small pockets. He vowed to prevent any racist tendency from lifting its head, stressing a vision of Sri Lanka as a nation where people live like brothers and sisters—built on love and trust, not conflict.

A strong appeal was directed at young people: choose compassion over hatred.