Former Minister Navin Dissanayake has criticized the book launch by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila on the Easter Sunday attacks, claiming the event was an attempt to “whitewash the Rajapaksas.”

In a statement on social media, Dissanayake said the event was held to unveil the “mastermind” behind the Easter attacks, but noted that the individual identified was Zahran Hashim, who had already been named in the Presidential Commission report.

“There was a function to unveil the mastermind of the Easter attacks. Surprise, surprise — the mastermind was mentioned as Zahran Hashim, who was, anyway, mentioned in the Presidential Commission report,” Dissanayake said.

He further remarked that the event being held yesterday was ironic, describing it as something that “should have been held on April Fool’s Day.”

Dissanayake also expressed regret that several opposition figures attended the event, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Sagala Ratnayaka, Wajira Abeywardena, and Thalatha Athukorala.

The book launch by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila focused on findings related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and was attended by several political figures. (Newswire)

There was a function yes to unveil the mastermind(මහා මොළකරු) of the easter attacks.Surprise surprise the matermind was mentioned as Zahran Hashim who was anyway mentioned in the Presidential comission report.This shld have been held today April fools https://t.co/YNlsCEC8V9 was… pic.twitter.com/QO9z2jRc7p

— Navin Dissanayake (@NavinDissa) April 1, 2026

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Former Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province and key United National Party (UNP) stalwart Navin Dissanayake has decided not to contest the upcoming 2024 Parliamentary Election. 

Taking to ‘X’, Dissanayake said the decision has been taken due to a conflict arising over the UNP’s symbol being chosen as a ‘gas cylinder’ instead of the party symbol ‘elephant’. 

“As argued by me in the working committee of the UNP on 01.10.2024 true UNP’rs stand to lose out if we contest on the gas cylinder symbol as Ex-President Ranil Wickramasinghe’s vote of 2.2 million largely included UNP and floating votes. The pohotuwa vote was a minority,” he pointed out.

Stating that he has contested four General Elections since 2000 and has emerged victorious, Navin Dissanayake said he will continue to work for the right-of-centre policies of the UNP, as he believes true economic and social prosperity can be achieved by these policies.

“I will not be associated with corruption or corrupt individuals and continue to work in the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation, the Sri-lanka Cricket Foundation and the Mahaweli Cultural Trust. I will also do my utmost for social and legal injustice through my work as a lawyer. Good luck to all candidates who are contesting and I hope the result will be beneficial to our motherland,” he added. (Newswire)  

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