Sri Lanka’s principal opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), staged a poignant protest in Parliament on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Members arrived dressed in black, signaling their deep disapproval of what they described as the government’s dismissive handling of the recent murder of one of their local council chairmen.
The victim, Lasantha Wickramasekera, served as the chairman of the Weligama local authority in the southern Matara district. He was tragically shot and killed by an unknown assailant within his own office just two days prior, on Tuesday, October 21.
This incident represents a grim milestone, being the first political assassination recorded since the National People’s Power (NPP) Government assumed power a year ago.
In a contentious statement made in Parliament on Wednesday, October 22, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, who oversees the nation’s police force, alleged that Wickramasekera possessed a ‘criminal past’ and had connections to the underworld.
Minister Wijepala elaborated, stating that ‘Wickramasekera was facing six pending court cases and had previously served suspended jail sentences.’
These assertions immediately ignited a furious backlash from the opposition benches.
The SJB swiftly condemned Minister Wijepala, accusing him of attempting to discredit the deceased local council chairman by labeling him a criminal.
SJB legislator Mujibar Rahman, in a strong rebuke of the Minister’s comments, highlighted that ‘Wickramasekera attained his position as chairman through the democratic will of the people.’
Despite the uproar, Minister Wijepala reiterated his stance, insisting that Wickramasekera’s murder stemmed from gang rivalry. However, Opposition MP Chamara Sampath directly challenged the Minister, demanding that if the government truly believed the killing was linked to underworld disputes, they should arrest the gunman and present his testimony to Parliament.