MONETABRIEF – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake marked the anniversary of the assassination of his party’s founder by calling on the Marxist movement to adopt a new political culture in keeping with its responsibilities in government.

Addressing the 37th November Heroes commemoration of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP – People’s Liberation Front) at Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo on Friday evening, Dissanayake urged his party cadres to adjust to the new reality.

"In the past, our primary responsibility was towards the party," Dissanayake said. "However, in the process of governing, our foremost responsibility is to the people."

"We must therefore transform ourselves into a movement that is committed and accountable to the people."

The JVP is known as a close-knit party that does not tolerate dissent. Many of its senior members have either been expelled or forced out for not toeing the party line.

The man who succeeded Wijeweera, Somawansa Amarasinghe, quit in April 2015 under pressure from other politburo members. The party’s propaganda secretary, Wimal Weerawansa, was sacked in November 2008.

Dissanayake told party cadres on Friday that they could resolve differences through internal discussions, identify shortcomings and make changes.

"We must take responsibility for everything that happens in the process of governance,” he said. “We cannot hide behind explanations that something belongs to the past, that it was inherited from previous administrations or that those who came before us failed to do it."

He said voters had given the JVP a mandate and it should be accountable to the people.

The JVP joined several groups of professionals to form the National People’s Power (NPP) in 2019 in a bid to shed its militant Marxist image and present a more centrist coalition to a conservative electorate.

The JVP is the main constituent of the NPP coalition.

Dissanayake said his government wanted to replace a political culture of fear and submission with one in which citizens could openly challenge their elected representatives.

"They have the right to reprimand us and to protest against us," he said, adding that the government would not be provoked by insults. He nevertheless urged critics to observe standards of civility.

Dissanayake also accused opposition groups of coming together to protect themselves as the law reached those involved in corruption.

He warned that frustration among weakened opponents could lead to “inappropriate actions”, while saying the government had a responsibility to prevent anarchy.

Remembering Wijeweera and other slain party members, he urged supporters to carry their spirit of sacrifice, resilience and solidarity into government while remaining answerable to the public.

Sangha split

Dissanayake said the opposition had united to launch a campaign against the government because of stepped-up prosecutions of those accused of bribery and corruption under previous administrations.

In a reference to a spate of anti-government protests led by militant Buddhist monks, Dissanayake said divisions in society were also reflected in the clergy.

"I have also observed that there is a similar division among some of our Buddhist monks and others,” he said. “The division has become more pronounced. However, this division is somewhat like an 80-to-20 split."

He said the government’s responsibility was to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Buddhist monks involved in a brawl at the Ruwanweli Seya in Anuradhapura on Thursday have been remanded until November 26. (Colombo/Nov14/2026)