Namal calls Channel 4 documentary a vendetta against Rajapaksas

• Says Rajapaksas only engage in principled politics and are not opportunists 
• Calls Channel 4 a mere film-making agency and not a media organisation 
• Accuses documentary makers of attempting to exact revenge on Rajapaksas for ending war 
• Asks all parties to not politicise terror attack as it will not reveal true mastermind 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa speaking in Parliament yesterday accused UK’s Channel 4, the creators of the latest documentary on the Easter Sunday attack, of holding a vendetta against his family. 

“The Rajapaksas firmly uphold principled politics and reject allegations of engaging in opportunistic politics. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) secured over 70% of the vote in the election preceding the Easter Sunday incident. Hence, there was no need for us to deviate from our policies to win an election,” he said. 

Rajapaksa asserted that Channel 4 has consistently harboured animosity towards his family and has actively worked on creating films against them since the war’s conclusion in 2009.

“It is not a media organisation. It is an agency producing films. They are once again attempting to exact revenge on us for ending the war in 2009,” he claimed. 

The MP noted the documentary has since been removed from the Channel 4 website. “If there was any credibility when creating, then one must question why it has been removed now,” he asked. 

Reflecting on the period preceding the attack, Rajapaksa pointed out that his family was not in power during that time and spent a significant portion of their days responding to summons from the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and behind bars. 

“How can we then influence a State intelligence chief and plan an attack as claimed?” he asked. The MP also noted that several attackers had supported other political parties in various junctures. “Therefore it is unbelievable they would give up their lives to bring a Rajapaksa into power,” he added. 

While the MP called for an investigation into the attack, he said it is essential that the incident is not politicised. “Politicising it will not reveal the real mastermind,” he said.