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Just days before India’s 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, social media users began sharing posts claiming that Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa would be attending the official celebrations in India as the chief guest. But was there any truth to these claims? We decided to dig deeper.
Social Media Posts:
A Facebook post published on 24th January, a couple of days ahead of India’s Republic Day, indicated that MP Namal Rajapaksa would be attending as the chief guest.
The following video also attempts to imply that Namal Rajapaksa is preparing to participate in the official Indian Republic Day celebrations. The video features photos of Namal Rajapaksa with the Indian prime minister and Indian politicians.
Through these posts, some users indicated that it was a sign that India recognised Namal Rajapaksa as a potential future premier. But what really happened? Let’s find out.
Fact Check:
Indian Republic Day is celebrated every year on January 26, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and India becoming a republic. Accordingly, India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026.
The Indian Republic Day celebrations were held under the patronage of PM Modi & President Murmu.
We checked the Indian and local news reports related to MP Namal Rajapaksa’s visit to India. However, none of the news reports mentioned that Namal Rajapaksa attended the Indian Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi as a guest.
According to media reports, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, attended the 77th Indian Republic Day celebrations as the chief guests. Related news reports are here, here, and here.
MP Namal participated in a Republic Day celebration of a private university in Odisha, India
Our further investigations revealed that, while MP Namal Rajapaksa did not attend the Republic Day national celebrations, he had attended the Republic Day celebrations organised by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a private university in the state of Odisha, India. This is a separate event from the official national celebration in the capital city, New Delhi.
Local media also reported that Namal Rajapaksa and a few other MPs had participated in the Republic Day celebration held at the Industrial Technology Institute in Odisha. You can refer them here, here, and here.
The official Facebook page of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology had also published a post stating that MP Namal Rajapaksa had participated as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations they held. KITT | KISS
Meanwhile, MP Namal Rajapaksa has published a post on his Facebook page regarding the Republic Day celebrations he attended, with the caption, “I extend my best wishes to the Indian Republic Day celebrations held in Odisha, India.” He had also delivered a speech at the ceremony.
Thus, it is clear that the national organiser of the SLPP, MP Namal Rajapaksa, has participated in a Republic Day celebration held by a private university in Odisha, India.
Our Fact Crescendo India team also confirmed that MP Namal Rajapaksa did not join the national celebrations of Indian Republic Day in New Delhi and that he attended a Republic Day celebration in Odisha, India, as a guest.
We also noticed that after the Republic Day event, MP Namal Rajapaksa met with the CM of Karnataka, Mr Siddaramaiah, in Bangalore.
The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka provided a clarification.
We enquired about this with the Head of Press, Information, and Culture at the High Commission of India, Colombo, who confirmed that the Sri Lankan heads of state did not participate in the Republic Day national celebrations held in New Delhi; however, diplomats, including the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, may have participated.
The spokesperson for the Indian High Commission also clarified that MP Rajapaksa only participated in a Republic Day celebration organised by a private university; he was neither invited nor participated in the official Republic Day celebrations organised by the government of India.
Indian Republic Day celebration in Colombo
A special reception was held on January 26 at the official residence of the Indian High Commission in Colombo to mark the 77th Republic Day of India, under the patronage of the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka stated that the chief guest was the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa. Among the chief guests at the reception were Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, the Speaker of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, and former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
There was also an exchange of books written on the proud history of the two countries, which was then followed by a dinner for the representatives of both countries. Various news outlets reported on this event, including the sources linked here and here. You can find the press release from the High Commission of India here.
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Conclusion:
Our investigation shows that MP Namal Rajapaksa did not attend the 77th Republic Day celebrations in India as the chief guest but rather as the chief guest at a Republic Day celebration organised by a private university in Odisha. The two presidents of the European Commission and the Council of Europe attended the 77th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guests.
Title:Was Namal Rajapaksa Invited as a Chief Guest for the Official Republic Day Celebration in India?
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: False
