Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa has accused the government of using young people as pawns during the 2022 protest movement ‘Aragalaya’ , claiming that while some leaders gained power, many youths were left to suffer.

Speaking at the SLPP headquarters on Nelum Mawatha last week, Rajapaksa said that “under the guise of struggle, a group of young people lost their lives to achieve political goals.

Those who incited them are now in power, while the innocent youth have gone to the gallows.”

He alleged that foreign funding had influenced the protest movement, citing reports of USAID investments in regime change efforts in Sri Lanka and other countries. “Some protest leaders today boast of buying vehicles, houses and going abroad, while others were sacrificed,” he said.

Rajapaksa also criticised the government’s reliance on repression, claiming it was being used to cover up corruption and mismanagement. He warned that attempts to justify violence and murder during the protests amounted to legitimising terrorism.
The MP further expressed concern over alleged attempts to undermine judicial independence, while welcoming recent rulings that he said delivered justice to SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala, who died during the unrest.