Ranil’s Arrest Shakes Up Politics – But Sajith Walks His Own Road

Colombo’s political tea tables are bubbling again — and this time it’s all thanks to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s arrest. What started as a courtroom drama has quickly turned into a stage for new alliances, fiery statements, and plenty of gossip.

On Sunday, a glittering cast of political heavyweights turned up in Colombo to launch a movement against what they’re calling a “constitutional dictatorship.” The lineup was juicy: Maithripala Sirisena, G.L. Peiris, the UNP, the SLFP, SLPP faces, the NFF, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Tamil and Muslim groups — practically everyone who loves a good rally.

But here’s the whisper that won’t die down: where was Sajith?

The SJB, the main opposition, was nowhere on the official guest list. Their leader, Sajith Premadasa, gave the grand gathering a miss, though MP Kavinda Jayawardena quietly slipped in. Notably, he wasn’t billed as representing the SJB.

Instead, Sajith seems to be playing his own game. While others shouted about dictatorship from the stage, he was busy making quiet visits to Ranil in detention, striking his own note of solidarity. Colombo’s chatterati say it’s classic Sajith — cautious, personal, and maybe keeping his distance from what looks like a messy marriage of convenience among rivals.

And then came the fireworks: Chandrika Kumaratunga, never one to mince words, reportedly fired off a strong statement about the arrest and its political undercurrents. The city’s political gossip mill is already spinning her comments as a direct challenge to those trying to hijack the narrative for their own gain.

So the buzz on the streets is this:

Is Sajith missing a golden chance to lead the anti-dictatorship charge?

Or is he smartly staying above the fray while others jostle for attention?

And with Chandrika’s voice booming back into the debate, will old rivalries overshadow new alliances?

Either way, Ranil’s arrest may have shackled him, but it has unlocked a whole new drama in Colombo’s power games — and the city is loving every whisper of it.