Namal’s Cambridge union lecture cancelled following diaspora protests

20 February 2026 09:34 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 39 Bookmark

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Colombo, February 20 (Daily Mirror) - The scheduled lecture of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa at the Cambridge Union has been cancelled following strong opposition from sections of the Tamil diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Rajapaksa had been invited to address both the Oxford Union and the Cambridge Union at the end of February during his visit to the UK.

However, Tamil diaspora groups and alleged LTTE supporters based across the UK expressed strong objections to his participation in the event.

In a joint statement, the Tamil Student Unions of the United Kingdom and the Tamil Youth Organization of Britain (TYO UK) called for the immediate cancellation of the speaking opportunity extended to Rajapaksa.

Amid the protests and mounting pressure, organisers decided to cancel the Cambridge Union lecture.

There was no immediate comment from Rajapaksa regarding the cancellation at the time of reporting.

Comments - 39

PunkaLatha Friday, 20 February 2026 09:59 AM

It was a good thing. Or else he would've murdered English while trying to speak. He can't deliver a proper speech even in Sinhala, just like his father - how could he use English to do so!

16 115

Prasanna Friday, 20 February 2026 01:53 PM

How can you say like that? He was a Thomian, He can manage English very fluently not like JVP baiyas. Unfortunately those universities afraid of Tamil diaspora's voice. That's very sad situation.

1 1

mohan mendis Friday, 20 February 2026 03:01 PM

Racism continues by tiger terrorists living in comforts of UK as third class coolies, shame on them. Why not ask UK to give them a seperate state eelam since they piss in their pants in fear of tiger crumb sucking tamil garbage living in UK ? No sensible tamil would stoop to this level of racism only tiger criminal fed racially biased slaves of loser prabakaran will act like this

2 1

sss Friday, 20 February 2026 05:21 PM

Murder English? Looks like bootlicking subserviency towards English still exists. This submissive social attitude towards English is one of the main reasons Sri Lanka has not developed a technically advanced economy. Because the primary qualification for any important position in public and private sectors has been knowledge of English and not the innovative capabilities.

0 0

Aela Friday, 20 February 2026 10:04 AM

Namal to lecture at the Cambridge Union? How come they even thought of such a brilliant idea?

14 88

Lankan Friday, 20 February 2026 04:11 PM

Shows how low the standards in UK have sunk, what with Royalty arrested and so-called prestigious universities like cambridge and oxford looking up to a cheat and looter to lecture to them.

0 0

Shas Friday, 20 February 2026 10:19 AM

At first, why the hell he was invited? On what basis? LOL, UK should get their act together!

12 88

NS Friday, 20 February 2026 10:24 AM

It's good that the Nomolaya didn't get the chance. But instead AKD can go. The tamil diaspora loves to receive him. He fulfills the LTTE diaspora agenda.

52 70

Rohan Friday, 20 February 2026 10:24 AM

Neither Cambridge nor Oxford are aware that this fellow Namal passed the Law College exams by cheating. If these two prestigious Universities had been informed about this crooked son of a crooked father, Mahinda Rajapaksa, then they would not have invited him in the first place.

10 93

Ram P Friday, 20 February 2026 10:55 AM

Before inviting him didn't they know that he is a fake lawyer? Even his OL/AL results are questionable. Standards in England too appear to be going down

11 77

Stephen Friday, 20 February 2026 10:56 AM

Even the Cambridge Union is losing credibility by inviting such a controversial figure. What exactly is Namal Rajapaksa going to speak about? His father’s mismanagement that nearly bankrupted the country? The mysterious case of Thajudeen? Missing journalists? Or maybe he’ll lecture us on how he barely scraped through law exams while benefiting from privilege? Perhaps he’ll also boast about: How his family manipulated the constitution to secure political power. The nepotism and corruption that have plagued the nation for decades. How public resources were used for private gain while ordinary citizens suffered. Deflecting accountability while claiming moral authority. Inviting someone with such a record does nothing to elevate discourse—it only highlights the Union’s questionable judgment.

10 67

Sriyanthi Friday, 20 February 2026 11:01 AM

Lecture on what ? Getting commissions or chasing gorls.

7 67

Insider Friday, 20 February 2026 11:01 AM

Has the Cambridge Uni not done its homework to know he is a cheat at a Law exam and is on bail for serious money laundering in his native SL, and even foreign travel is by courtesy the judge in that case.

6 60

Jude Friday, 20 February 2026 11:10 AM

Didn't know Oxford and Cambridge have lowered their standards by inviting a idiot.

9 59

Jude Friday, 20 February 2026 11:12 AM

Rumors are circulating that Namal donated 1 million dollars to each university for the invitation.

11 42

BANDARA Friday, 20 February 2026 12:49 PM

this is STOLEN money from the motherland

0 1

Citizen k Friday, 20 February 2026 01:45 PM

It is citizen's money.He never worked a day in his life and had no right to give away the money if rumours are true.

0 1

Kumara Friday, 20 February 2026 11:28 AM

Politicians are good at distortion to suit their agenda. At the end if civil war in 2009 Rajapakse not only murdered who wanted to surrender with white flags but by barricading Tamil civilians behind barbed wire fences in Vavunia, Tamis were humiliated. So not just Tamil diaspora but global Tamils will never make friends with Rajapakesas. Srilankans, please Unite the country with any Leader but a Rsjapakse.

2 1

Kumara Friday, 20 February 2026 11:54 AM

Namal uses Tamil Diaspora to attack AKD govt, so he deserves the cancellation.

0 0

Lokka Friday, 20 February 2026 12:43 PM

These all are dam lies nothing but the lies

0 0

Nihal S Friday, 20 February 2026 12:50 PM

OMG. What is the standard of those Universities?

0 1

krish Friday, 20 February 2026 01:35 PM

Huh. I thought Tamil diaspora might like Namal. People like pillenyan used to be a member of their party as I recall.

0 0

Student Friday, 20 February 2026 01:38 PM

This idiot could lecture his Father, Uncle and or brother so how the hello is he going to lecture even student!!.

0 1

sunil Friday, 20 February 2026 01:49 PM

Even local universities do not invite this school drop out, why would such prestigious universities invite an uneducated low life thug

0 1

Look at the bigger picture Friday, 20 February 2026 01:59 PM

The Tamil youth movement is very powerful and influential. They also make Sinhala students’ lives miserable at university and school. Moreover, they have completely distorted the narrative, by claiming that they alone are the rightful owners of Sri Lanka and that others have taken their country. Claims of no education, health or social welfare have been wrongfully displayed on display boards which are circulated at campuses. The propaganda is astounding and goes unchallenged. To those who think the LTTE threat has gone; nothing is further from the truth.

0 1

Lalinda Amerasena Friday, 20 February 2026 02:01 PM

Whole Country should be proud of namal for inviting him for Cambridge union lecture.I don't think there is a single mp in the current government of Namal's calibre to receive such an invitation.

1 0

Patrick Friday, 20 February 2026 02:08 PM

With the vast number of credible academics, reformers, economists, human rights advocates, and global leaders available, it’s genuinely disappointing to see this choice. At a time when Sri Lanka is still recovering from economic collapse and political turmoil, inviting a figure so closely tied to that era raises serious questions about judgment and standards. Is this about promoting meaningful debate — or simply generating controversy for attention? A platform like Cambridge Union should elevate voices that inspire accountability, reform, and intellectual depth, not individuals associated with political dynasties and unresolved allegations. Students deserve speakers who contribute ideas that move societies forward — transparency, responsibility, innovation — not figures who remain deeply polarizing back home. If the goal is balanced discussion, then where are the voices representing victims of corruption, economic mismanagement, or press suppression? Why not invite independent econ

0 0

Tony Fernando Friday, 20 February 2026 02:33 PM

Can't be Oxford or Cambridge, must be one from Wolverhampton Univercity , nvitation created by using AI.

0 1

dcol Friday, 20 February 2026 02:52 PM

Freedom of speech means listening to other people’s opinions even when you don’t agree with them. People may have personal flaws, but hearing the other side is essential. Only then can you, as an intelligent individual, make your own informed decision. That’s exactly what institutions like Oxford and Cambridge aim to do: provide a platform where every viewpoint can be expressed. In that space, people can ask questions respectfully, get answers, and then decide whether they agree or disagree. Silencing opposing views isn’t democratic. It simply creates an echo chamber where you only hear what you already like, and that helps no one

1 0

Don B Jayasinghe Friday, 20 February 2026 03:11 PM

This is an event of a student body namely Oxford Student Council. Membership is open for general public for payment of a fee, not limited for students and staff. Then the members can join in debates and guess speaker events. Here are the excerpts from the official site. For the General Public While the Union was historically a closed society, it now offers more public engagement: Open Membership: Members of the public can now purchase an "Open Membership," which grants them the opportunity to join the debate and attend guest speaker events. Invitations: The Union’s student-led committees actively invite global figures—from politicians like Mike Pence to cultural icons—to address the society. This is not an official event from alumni or board of control of the Oxford University. Student council makes money by selling membership to public.

0 0

Jeanie Fernandez Friday, 20 February 2026 03:17 PM

Are the Oxford and Cambridge Unions bankrupt for talent? Why invite a bogus lawyer from a murderous family?

0 2

sarath Friday, 20 February 2026 03:50 PM

Before lecturing, this fake lawyer should first attend law lectures

0 2

Nimal 1 Friday, 20 February 2026 04:00 PM

What qualifications does this moron have to address such prestigious academic institutions? Any way I am glad that this is not taking place.

0 2

Cheers Friday, 20 February 2026 04:02 PM

Tamil diaspora are terrorist and bogus sri lankan assylum seekers

1 1

Nimal Friday, 20 February 2026 04:19 PM

This must be like the same as his farther s Oxford lecture some years ago

0 0

Pina R Balusinha Friday, 20 February 2026 04:39 PM

W H O - HOOOOOOO! Now even a talk at a law college without any proper qualifications! Cases will come out soon!

0 0

Lol Friday, 20 February 2026 05:04 PM

Both Cambridge and Oxford seem to have lost their standards! On what grounds was this Namolae invited??

0 1

Manisha Friday, 20 February 2026 08:53 PM

Oops... poor students lost the chance of learning, 'how to get a degree certificate' without sitting for exams'.

0 2

ICC Sunday, 22 February 2026 11:48 PM

I AM ASKING DIASPORA DON'T SEND A CENT TO LANKA FOR ONE YEAR.

0 0

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