The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), alleging that a coordinated social media and media campaign was launched to discredit National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa’s recent visit to India.

Addressing the media, SLPP representative Pasan Kasthuri alleged that figures linked to the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) government were attempting to downplay the significance of the delegation’s participation in India’s Republic Day celebrations.

According to Kasthuri, the SLPP has submitted information to the CID seeking legal action against individuals and groups accused of spreading what the party describes as false and defamatory content.

“A media operation is being carried out under the direct supervision of government leaders to portray the Republic Day event attended by Namal Rajapaksa and his delegation as insignificant and of no value,” Kasthuri claimed.

Rajapaksa led a delegation to Odisha, India, where they attended Republic Day celebrations organised by a higher education institute. The delegation included several SLPP parliamentarians, including Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Indika Anuruddha, and Milinda Rajapaksa, as well as members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and youth political activists.

The SLPP said Rajapaksa was invited as a chief guest at the event, where he addressed a large gathering of students, describing the invitation as evidence of his growing international recognition.

Kasthuri also addressed the broader political narrative following the 2022 Aragalaya protests, stating that claims that Rajapaksa-led politics had ended were misplaced.

“They thought Rajapaksa politics had reached a full stop. What we have shown is that it was only a comma,” he said, alleging that the protest movement had been amplified through social media algorithms and external influences.

He further claimed that while the current government had previously asserted that the Rajapaksa family could not enter villages freely, Namal Rajapaksa is now receiving invitations from foreign institutions, while some government ministers face difficulties engaging with the public.

Responding to criticism that the visit was not an official invitation from the Indian government, Kasthuri clarified that neither Rajapaksa nor the SLPP had described it as an official state visit.

He said the invitation was extended by Indian citizens and youth groups, drawing a parallel with events organised independently alongside Sri Lanka’s Independence Day celebrations.