Sri Lanka reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause during a solemn event organized in Colombo to mark the 77th anniversary of Al-Nakba — the “Day of Catastrophe” — commemorating the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in 1948. The event, jointly hosted by the Embassy of the State of Palestine and The Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palastine , saw the participation of political leaders, diplomats, and members of civil society.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa both delivered powerful addresses, underscoring Sri Lanka’s historical and moral alignment with the Palestinian people’s struggle for statehood, justice, and human rights.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Amarasooriya drew parallels between Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948 and the onset of Palestinian suffering the same year. “While Sri Lanka was celebrating its freedom from colonial rule, Palestinians were facing dispossession and exile,” she said. “Our solidarity with Palestine is rooted in a shared history of anti-colonial resistance and an enduring commitment to justice and self-determination.”
The Prime Minister reiterated Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and humanitarian support, citing the country’s contributions in 2024 to the Gaza Children’s Fund and essential aid deliveries, including Ceylon tea. She condemned the escalating violence in Gaza, particularly the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the blockade enforced in March 2025.
“Silence is complicity,” she emphasized, calling for immediate international action to ensure accountability and uphold humanitarian law. She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, where Israel and Palestine coexist in peace and security.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, expressing cross-party unity on the issue. “Successive governments, irrespective of political ideology, have stood by the Palestinian people,” he said. Premadasa called on Sri Lanka to take a proactive role in international forums, including the United Nations, to champion the Palestinian cause.
Criticizing the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and the continued loss of civilian lives, Premadasa urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric. “It’s time for action. We as a country, united in purpose, will take the leadership in championing the cause of the Palestinian people.”
Both leaders underscored the urgency of ending violence, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, and holding perpetrators of human rights violations accountable. The speeches reflect Sri Lanka’s unified stance on the Palestinian issue, rooted in its own history of conflict and reconciliation.
On his welcome address, Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and the Co-Chairman of The Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine Bimal Rathnayake said that the unprecedented genocide lasting for 15 months in Gaza and West Bank with the full support of US administration and said US so called deal of the century forced to displace the Palestinians from their ancestral land.
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Dr.Rizvi Sali, Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Rauff Hakeem MP, Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress Rishad Badiudeen MP, Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam MP from Tamil National People’s Front also addressed the occasion and express their solidarity with Palestine.
