Tensions Rise as NPP and Frontliners Clash Over Office Ownership

 

Colombo, Sept. 2 — Even as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) called on the people of the North to reject all forms of violence and move forward with unity, a storm of allegations and counter-allegations erupted in the South over a bitter dispute between the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FLSP).

The dispute centres on the ownership of a party office, now at the heart of a court case. On Monday morning, members of the FLSP alleged that a group of NPP supporters forcibly entered their office and took control of the premises.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa quickly seized on the incident, accusing the NPP of undermining democracy through intimidation. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Rajapaksa charged that NPP members had “barged into the FLSP office and forcefully taken it over,” echoing concerns of rising political thuggery.

Rajapaksa’s remarks drew sharp attention as he linked the alleged takeover to the darker legacy of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the party from which both the NPP and the FLSP trace their origins. “If this is the new system change the NPP pledged, then Sri Lanka’s democracy is truly at risk. The law and order are in shambles where the old JVP fear will be created once again,” Rajapaksa warned.

The NPP has yet to formally respond to the allegations. However, political observers note that the dispute over the building has been simmering for months, with both parties claiming legal rights. The case is currently before court, though Monday’s events suggest that tempers on the ground may be running far ahead of the legal process.

The clash comes at a sensitive time for the NPP leadership. AKD’s call for non-violence in the North was meant to reassure voters wary of conflict and upheaval. Yet, the reports of party supporters being linked to aggressive takeovers risk undermining that message.

For the FLSP, the incident has given them a moment in the spotlight—painting themselves as victims of political bullying by a larger rival. For the NPP, it is a reminder that its promise of a “new system” may be tested as much by internal conflicts and old rivalries as by external opposition.

As Sri Lanka inches toward a decisive political season, the unfolding court case and the competing claims to legitimacy will be watched closely—not only for their impact on the parties involved but also for what they signal about the direction of the country’s fragile democratic culture.