Foreign Minister Herath Declares Legal Action Against “Historical Fabrications”
(Lanka-e-News -24.May.2025, 11.20 PM) In an unflinching reaffirmation of national sovereignty and the honour of the Sri Lankan armed forces, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath declared this week that the government will take firm legal action against any individual or group promoting allegations of genocide in relation to the country’s long-concluded civil conflict.
Speaking with characteristic clarity and resolve in a nationally televised interview, Herath addressed mounting international commentary accusing Sri Lanka of having committed genocide against the Tamil population—a claim recently amplified by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“We absolutely do not accept that a genocide took place in our country,” Herath asserted, his voice steady with the kind of conviction that reflects a government no longer willing to allow others to write its history.
The charge of genocide, Herath explained, is not merely inaccurate—it is dangerous. It is a distortion of history and an insult to the men and women of the Sri Lankan military, who fought for the preservation of the nation amidst one of the most ruthless terrorist insurgencies in Asia: the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“Genocide implies the systematic and deliberate extermination of an ethnic group. That is a grave accusation—one which bears no resemblance to the facts of our conflict,” he stated. “To equate the humanitarian cost of a war against terrorism with an act of genocide is a calculated and politically motivated misrepresentation.”
The minister’s remarks have struck a chord within Sri Lanka and abroad, particularly among those who recall the harrowing years of suicide bombings, child conscription, and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the LTTE—a group now banned in over 30 countries.
In an era of viral narratives and activist-driven foreign policy, Herath’s stand is a call for historical integrity. He noted that the usage of the term “genocide” in international forums and social media campaigns risks re-traumatizing communities, sowing new divisions, and undermining hard-won peace.
“Reconciliation cannot grow on the soil of lies,” he warned. “We will not permit falsehoods to be weaponised against our people, our soldiers, and our nation’s dignity.”
The Foreign Ministry has reportedly advised its legal division to prepare a robust response to defamatory statements and has instructed diplomatic missions to push back against what it describes as a “coordinated international misinformation campaign.”
Herath also reminded the public that Sri Lankan law already prohibits the glorification of the LTTE and the public display of its symbols—acts which remain painful reminders of a violent past for the country’s multi-ethnic citizenry.
“These symbols are not benign emblems of culture. They are battle flags of a violent separatist movement responsible for thousands of deaths, including of Tamils, Muslims, and Sinhalese alike,” Herath said.
The government, he declared, will take action to ensure that all such violations—online or offline—are prosecuted. But the latest measure goes further: the government will also move to regulate and restrict the misuse of the word “genocide” in public discourse where it is used recklessly or maliciously.
“This is not about silencing voices—it is about protecting the truth,” the minister said.
Herath’s statement comes amid increasing international scrutiny following renewed efforts by diaspora groups to lobby Western governments for sanctions against Sri Lankan officials and military personnel.
But Colombo is no longer in retreat.
“Sri Lanka is not on trial. Sri Lanka is standing tall,” said one senior diplomat close to the Foreign Minister. “Our military defeated terrorism. Now our government must defeat this second war—one of narratives, not bullets.”
Observers in the capital note that Herath’s tone marks a shift from past administrations, which often attempted to placate critics with vague promises of investigations and reconciliation without defending the country’s war effort in full.
“Under this administration, we are seeing a return to confidence—confidence not only in our sovereignty but in our ability to speak boldly on the world stage,” said Professor Fernando, a political historian at the University of Colombo.
To be sure, the legacy of Sri Lanka’s conflict remains complex. The scars run deep. But Herath was careful to distinguish between the pursuit of reconciliation and the promotion of fiction.
“We remain committed to truth, justice, and unity. But we will not allow our peace to be hijacked by agendas that have nothing to do with healing and everything to do with power,” he said.
For many in the country, his words strike a necessary balance—asserting national pride while keeping the door open to genuine post-war healing. “The government must protect the sacrifices made for peace,” said Malathy Sivakumaran, a Tamil schoolteacher in Vavuniya. “But it must also ensure that reconciliation is not replaced with revenge politics.”
By taking a clear stand, Foreign Minister Herath has delivered a message not only to Canada, but to all international actors seeking to intervene in Sri Lanka’s post-war affairs:
Do not mistake Sri Lanka’s silence for guilt. Do not confuse our humility with weakness. And do not write our history for us.
With legal tools in hand, diplomatic missions on alert, and public support growing, it appears the government is preparing for the long road ahead—not of armed conflict, but of historical defence.
As Herath himself put it: “Truth is not a negotiation. It is a right. And we will defend that right—every time, everywhere.”
-By A Staff Writer
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by (2025-05-24 23:55:26)
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