News
Govt. and opposition unite to support Palestine, condemn humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
View(s):Political leaders across the divide came together on Thursday to call for an immediate end to what they called a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, along with a ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade, with the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader expressing Sri Lanka’s fullest support for the Palestinian freedom cause.
They reaffirmed their assurances when they addressed an event to commemorate Al Nakba—meaning catastrophe in Arabic—that refers to the ethnic cleansing of some 750,000 Palestinians from more than 500 villages months before and after Israel declared itself as an independent nation in 1948 following United Nations General Assembly resolution 181 in 1947.
Addressing the well-attended gathering at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agriculture Research Centre, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, the chief guest, expressed Sri Lanka’s deep concern over the ongoing escalation of violence in Gaza and the blockade of food aid since March this year.
Minister Bimal Ratnayake and Palestinian Ambassador Ihab Khalil offer bottles of water to Prime Minister Harini following her speech. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
“The United Nations has repeatedly sounded the alarm over the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Since the enforcement of the blockade in March 2025, the entry of essential food, water, and medical supplies has been severely restricted, effectively paralysing humanitarian relief operations. Most shockingly, the UN reports that at least 100 children are being killed or injured every single day in Gaza since airstrikes resumed on March 18. This level of violence against civilians—especially children—is unconscionable and cannot be tolerated by any standard of humanity or law,” the premier said.
She said that as members of the international community, nations cannot be bystanders. “When credible evidence of grave violations emerges, silence is complicity. It is our urgent duty to move beyond expressions of concern and take decisive action—ensuring accountability, protecting innocent lives, and securing justice for the Palestinian people. Anything less would be a failure of our shared humanity,” she said.
The Prime Minister said Sri Lanka called on the international community and all parties concerned to make renewed efforts to achieve a lasting solution. “We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of violence. We call for the free movement of essential items and humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, medicine, and electricity and water supply to Gaza,” she said.
A section of the crowd
Taking part as the guest of honour at the event jointly organised by the Palestinian embassy and the
Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine was Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Leader Sajith Premadasa.
He recalled Sri Lanka’s long-standing commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause. He noted that successive governments, irrespective of their political ideology, have stood by the Palestinian people. “We are proud to say that all representatives in the Sri Lankan parliament stand together as one to seek justice for the Palestinian people.”
Spelling out measures aimed at a just solution for the Palestinian cause, Mr. Premadasa called for an end to unceasing efforts at discriminating, marginalising, persecuting and targeting the Palestinian people. “Their inalienable rights must be championed and protected not merely through declarations, speeches and words, but it has to be achieved through action and deed.”
Opposition leader delivering his speech
He said he would propose that Sri Lanka should take the leadership in the various United Nations agencies and in the General Assembly to champion the cause of the Palestinian people, and the opposition would support such a move unconditionally.
“We will take the leadership in championing the cause of the Palestinian people and stop the annihilation of and all attempts to vaporise the Palestinian people.”
Describing the destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and pre-schools in Gaza, as heinous and inhuman crimes, he said these violations of international humanitarian law need to be brought before international judicial institutions.
Palestinian ambassador Ihab I. M. Khalil said Nakba Day was not a day of mourning but a day of action for the international community to find a just solution to one of the world’s oldest political problems. “Justice delayed is not justice denied. It is justice destroyed,” he noted, adding that the world should act now and hold accountable those who commit war crimes against the Palestinian people.
He thanks Sri Lanka for standing on the right side of history.
Minister Bimal Ratnayake, the co-chairman of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, said Sri Lanka approaches global issues with a broader and more virtuous definition of democracy and parliamentarianism.
“Our parliamentary and government’s policymaking process is value-driven and principles-based. We want to be on the right side of history. When history is written by the people, we want Sri Lanka to shine as a nation that stood upright for global justice,” he said.
Noting that the Palestinian people have suffered decades of oppression and occupation since the Nakba on May 15, 1948, he said the Nakba, the unprecedented genocide, which lasted for fifteen months from October 7, 2023, has once again begun with the full support and connivance of the United States.
Describing Israel’s aggression as “a massacre of the innocents, a crime against humanity, and a stain on the conscience of the world”, Mr. Ratnayake said the silence of the self-proclaimed international community “is an utter disgrace” that has eroded the global order and shattered trust in the institutions that were meant to uphold justice and protect the rights of all peoples.
“We cannot remain idle while an entire people face genocide and displacement. Nor can we allow international law to become an instrument of selective enforcement—applied to the weak while ignored for the powerful,” he said.
Denouncing all efforts at ethnic cleansing, he called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territories, an end to the siege and the desecration of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem, in his address, criticised the lackadaisical approach of the Foreign Ministry in condemning the bombings of refugee camps in Gaza. “Sometimes when you look at the Foreign Ministry statement, it’d be better not to have issued such a statement. It was neither here nor there.”
He also called on the government to stop sending Sri Lanka’s workforce to Israel if it was really committed to the Palestinian cause. He said Sri Lankan workers were taking the jobs meant for economically deprived Palestinian people.
Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader Rishad Badiuddin, and a representative from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna also addressed the event.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!