Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a special statement expressing deep concern over the ongoing violence in Kathmandu, Nepal, following widespread protests and unrest.
“I am closely following the situation in Kathmandu, and I strongly condemn all forms of killings, including those of youth,” Wickremesinghe said. He described the arson attack on the former Prime Minister’s residence and the murder of the former Prime Minister’s wife as “a deeply tragic event,” extending his condolences over her death.
He also condemned attacks on ministers, including the death of former PM’s wife, noting that such actions constitute a grave violation of women’s rights. “These incidents tarnish Nepal’s reputation and are a serious affront to the country,” he said.
Wickremesinghe criticised both the excessive use of force by police and the failure of the authorities to contain the situation early. “Reports suggest that the crisis could have been controlled on the first day without gunfire,” he noted.
The former President warned that such unrest could have far-reaching consequences and condemned the blanket bans on social media platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube, stating that no country should create space for the overthrow of governments through such restrictions.
He attributed the crisis to long-standing grievances that had been ignored by successive governments, saying that the younger generation’s frustration eventually erupted into anger. He called the attacks on Parliament and the judiciary “a serious insult to Nepal’s democracy” and stressed the need to restore peace and hold constitutional elections under the supervision of the military, which currently holds power.
“Nepal is a country of special significance to Sri Lanka as the birthplace of the Buddha. These acts of violence cannot be condoned in such a land,” Wickremesinghe said, urging Nepal’s leadership to take inspiration from the Buddha’s teaching to “assemble in harmony, deliberate in harmony, and disperse in harmony.”
He concluded by expressing hope that Nepal’s present rulers would draw on the principles of the Saptha Aparihani Dhamma to restore stability and unity in the country.
