A public endorsement of actor-turned-politician Vijay by Sri Lankan parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has sparked criticism and renewed debate over the Tamil Eelam issue and Vijay’s political positioning.

Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, posted a message on social media praising Vijay’s cinematic career and wishing him success as he transitions into politics. In the post, Rajapaksa described Vijay as one of his favourite performers and welcomed his entry into a “new journey,” tagging the actor and using the hashtag associated with Vijay’s political branding.

#ThalapathyVijay has always been one of my favorite performers. His journey in cinema and the energy he brought to the silver screen are truly special and unforgettable. As he closes this chapter and steps into a new journey, cinema will definitely miss his presence and vibrancy.… pic.twitter.com/gZSoBhpDYo

— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) December 27, 2025

The message has drawn sharp reactions from sections of Tamil political commentators and activists, who argue that the endorsement sends a problematic signal, particularly in the absence of a clear and unequivocal position by Vijay or his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on the Tamil Eelam question and the atrocities committed against Eelam Tamils during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Critics point out that Namal Rajapaksa belongs to a political family widely associated with Sri Lanka’s military campaign against Tamil separatist groups and with allegations of mass civilian casualties during the final stages of the war in 2009. They argue that public admiration from such a figure inevitably carries political weight, regardless of whether it is framed as a personal comment on cinema.

According to these critics, the endorsement would be unlikely if Vijay or TVK had articulated a firm political stand on accountability for alleged war crimes or on justice for Eelam Tamils. They contend that silence or ambiguity on these issues creates space for figures linked to anti-Eelam positions to publicly associate themselves with Vijay, thereby sending what they describe as a “wrong and dangerous message” to his large fan base.

Observers also warn that allowing leaders or political heirs associated with alleged mass violence to symbolically align with popular Tamil political figures risks diluting long-standing demands for justice and accountability. They argue that political mobilisation driven primarily by celebrity appeal, without clear ideological positions on core Tamil issues, could ultimately weaken rather than strengthen Tamil political agency.

Neither Vijay nor Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has issued a response to the controversy or clarified whether the party welcomes or distances itself from Rajapaksa’s remarks. The episode has intensified calls from activists for Vijay to clearly state his position on the Eelam Tamil issue as he prepares for an active role in electoral politics.

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The post Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Son Praises Vijay appeared first on The Commune.