Tamil diaspora groups afraid to let Namal clear misconceptions, says SLPP’s Cassilingham

Colombo, Feb 23 (Daily Mirror) - Some sections of the Tamil diaspora are afraid to allow Namal Rajapaksa to clear misconceptions, as their false narratives on certain issues would no longer hold any weight, Geethanath Cassilingham, Politburo Member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and Chief Organizer for the Jaffna District said.

Issuing a statement in the wake of controversy surrounding Namal’s recent visit to the United Kingdom, Cassilingham said both the Oxford Union and the Cambridge Union have historically maintained their honour and prestige as platforms that uphold free speech and encourage open dialogue.

“Both the Oxford and Cambridge Unions have long held their honour and prestige for maintaining free speech and being a platform for honest and truthful dialogue where politicians and leaders must face tough questions from the youth,” Cassilingham said.

He noted that Namal had travelled to the UK on the invitation of the two unions, viewing it as an opportunity to directly engage with students and address concerns that have lingered for years.

“It is with that intention that Namal Rajapaksa travelled to the UK, seeing it as an opportunity for him to clear the misconceptions and misunderstandings that any community or youth may have,” he said.

However, Cassilingham claimed that certain elements within sections of the Tamil diaspora had sought to prevent such engagement.

“It is unfortunate that some parts of the Tamil diaspora are afraid to allow Namal to clear these misconceptions, as their false narratives on certain issues will not hold any weight if he is given a fair platform,” he said.

According to him, students at both Oxford and Cambridge would have benefited from hearing directly from Namal on contentious issues relating to Sri Lanka’s past and present political climate.

“The students of both Cambridge and Oxford would have held a much clearer image about various questions had this engagement taken place without interference,” Cassilingham said.

He further alleged that some agents within the diaspora were hindering meaningful dialogue for what he termed personal benefit.

“It is now clear that some agents of the Tamil diaspora are hindering the Tamil people for their own personal benefits,” he claimed. “This was indeed a missed opportunity for international students and the new generation of Tamil students who genuinely demand answers to their long-pending questions.”

Cassilingham said those who have questions should be prepared to engage in direct dialogue rather than block platforms for discussion.

“If you have questions, what is stopping you from getting the answers from the horse’s mouth?” he asked.

Emphasising that the engagement effort would continue, Cassilingham said Namal remains committed to dialogue with Tamil youth and the wider Tamil community.

“I want to emphasise that Namal Rajapaksa will not stop his efforts to engage with the Tamil youth and the Tamil community to address the misconceptions that some elements have created for their own personal benefits. He will always be open to meaningful dialogue,” he said.

The statement comes amid heightened debate over the role of diaspora activism and the space for political engagement abroad, particularly on university platforms known for hosting global political figures.