By Ranil Wickremesinghe denied allegations of protecting ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from prosecution during an interview on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head.
Wickremesinghe, threatened to leave 8 minutes into the hour-long interview with Mehdi Hasan, but ultimately remained seated for a heated debate that also covered the government’s handling of war crimes investigations following the country’s civil war, and allegations of torture committed under his watch in the late 1980s.
Wickremesinghe, who lost the 2024 election, also rejected accusations that his government failed to properly investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. When questioned about Rajapaksa’s return to Sri Lanka in 2022, he defended his stance, stating that there were no legal charges to warrant an arrest.
During the heated interview, he dismissed claims by Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church that his administration shielded external forces behind the 2019 attacks, calling them “nonsense.” Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had previously criticized Wickremesinghe’s handling of the investigation.
When asked about war crimes from Sri Lanka’s civil war, Wickremesinghe admitted that justice had not been served but denied systematic bombings of hospitals. He acknowledged that aid had been blocked to war victims and defended his decision to reappoint General Shavendra Silva, who has been accused of war crimes.
Denying Allegations
The interview also covered allegations of torture in the late 1980s, which Wickremesinghe strongly denied, questioning the validity of a government report implicating him.
Defending his presidency, he argued that he had stabilized Sri Lanka’s economy and prevented its collapse, though he acknowledged that his economic policies contributed to his election loss.
The full Head to Head interview airs on March 6, with repeat broadcasts scheduled for March 8, 10, and 12.
Here are five key excerpts from the interview, rewritten for clarity and impact:
“Gotabaya Rajapaksa had the legal right to return to Sri Lanka. There were no charges against him, so I had no authority to prevent his entry. I am not a dictator.”
“The accusations made by the Catholic Church regarding the Easter Sunday bombings are baseless. The Church’s leadership is engaging in political narratives rather than focusing on facts.”
“I acknowledge that justice remains unfulfilled for all communities affected by the civil war. There is still much work to be done.”
“Yes, there were instances where aid was blocked during the war. Some hospitals were also bombed, but these were not systematic attacks.”
“Over two years, I worked to stabilize the economy, implementing tough but necessary measures. These decisions were difficult, and I knew they could cost me politically, but they were essential to prevent the country’s collapse.”
