Sri Lanka’s Religious Rift : President Labels Pilgrimages ‘Hatred,’ Opposition Hits Back

Sri Lanka has been thrown into a heated political and religious debate after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed that visits to Buddhist religious shrines beyond the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi were motivated by hatred. The comments, made during a public event in Jaffna, were strongly condemned by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who said the President’s statements directly contradicted the Constitution and threatened the nation’s unity. In a special statement, Premadasa reminded the public that the Constitution grants Buddhism a special place in the country, but also emphasizes the protection of other religions and cultures. He said the government must always work to promote brotherhood, reconciliation, and national unity. “According to the supreme law mentioned in the Constitution of our country, Buddhism is given a special place… and other religions and cultures are given specific protection and protection,” Premadasa said, stressing that every citizen must implement programs that promote harmony while preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

Premadasa went on to assert that the President’s remarks were misleading and could incite division. He emphasized that Sri Lankans have the right to visit Buddhist religious shrines across the country, and these visits are not driven by hatred. “People have the right to visit Buddhist religious shrines spread across the country, and that they are not done out of hatred,” Premadasa said. He added that when people visit the Solosmasthanas, it encourages travel across many regions, promoting unity rather than division. The Opposition Leader highlighted that the North and South have long shared religious ties and that the visits of northern pilgrims to Buddhist shrines like Kebiliththa reflect a unified Sri Lanka rather than an act of hostility. He also drew a comparison with other religions, noting that Christians visiting Catholic shrines do not face accusations of hatred. “Even when Christians visit Catholic shrines, they never think that hatred will reach its peak when they engage in religious activities,” Premadasa said, emphasizing that extremist groups exist in every community but have no place in Sri Lanka. “There are small extremist groups in every part and they have no place for them… there is no place for extremism in our country where people follow the middle path according to Buddhism,” he added.

Premadasa called on the government to uphold constitutional values and protect all religions equally. He urged leaders to focus on unity instead of using religious sentiment as a political tool. “The government led by the President should understand the Constitution, should not make statements that contradict the special place and priority given to Buddhism, should also protect other religions and cultures, and should work to ensure this unity and harmony,” Premadasa said. He warned against using divisive issues as political weapons and stressed that such tactics would only deepen existing fractures in society. Premadasa further emphasized that the root causes of national divisions should not be highlighted and exploited for political gain. He urged citizens to respect all religions, as they have been taught since childhood, and condemned any attempt to create social hatred for political purposes. “The issues that are the root causes of the country’s divisions should not be highlighted… we should respect all religions since childhood,” he said.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made the controversial remarks during the Northern Provincial Program of the ‘Ratam Ekata’ mission to eliminate the menace of poisonous drugs. The event took place at the Jaffna Technological College playground, where the President spoke about national unity, reconciliation, and the need to prevent the resurgence of racism. “I know that there are twists and turns everywhere. They come to Jaffna after passing the Jayashree Maha Bodhi Thero to perform the Poya. What is there is not the Poya, but hatred,” the President said. He claimed that some groups were using religious pilgrimages as a cover for political land claims and racist agendas. “They go to every Poya and surround themselves with that temple… not for the sake of land, but for the sake of racism,” he said, adding that he had instructed intelligence agencies to investigate every site to ensure no land claims were being made under the guise of religious visits.

The President emphasized that Sri Lanka must not allow racism to resurface after decades of conflict. He warned that the country must move forward by fostering brotherhood and trust among all communities. “We want a good country where all the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live in brotherhood,” he said. “For decades, we lived in hatred and anger… Therefore, we must build a nation that lives in brotherhood and intimacy where conflicts will not arise again.” President Dissanayake also insisted that the government was committed to rebuilding trust and improving the lives of people in the North through development and equal opportunities. “We will not allow racism of any kind to rise again anywhere,” he said. He stressed that the government’s mission was to create a society free from suspicion and hatred.

He outlined his vision for the future of the North, emphasizing economic development and cultural growth. “We must create equal opportunities for sports… literature, art, and film… We must remove the mind that looks at others with hatred,” he said. “I assure you that the trust you have placed in us will not be broken in any way.” Dissanayake also spoke about the need to build a people’s government that represents all communities, emphasizing that the Northern Province must see itself as part of the national governance structure. “You in the North, as well as the people in the South, trust us as their government,” he said. He urged local leaders to ensure that allocated funds are used effectively, especially for village development and infrastructure. “We have allocated a large amount of money for village development… I request you to intervene and provide the necessary facilities to the people of the villages by spending that money,” he said, stressing that this would accelerate the nation’s progress.

The clash between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has highlighted deep tensions over religious freedom, constitutional values, and national unity in Sri Lanka. While the President claims his statements are aimed at preventing racism, critics argue that his remarks risk fueling the very hatred he claims to oppose. The controversy underscores the fragile balance between protecting Buddhism’s constitutional status and safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all religious communities, and the nation now faces a critical test in whether it can maintain harmony while navigating political conflict.