The Iranian Embassy in Colombo has defended the Iranian government’s handling of recent unrest, claiming that initially peaceful economic protests were later hijacked by violent groups with alleged foreign links.

In a statement titled ‘Unrest in Iran: From Reality to Distortion,’ issued by the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Division yesterday, the Embassy said public dissent, including protests, is a normal feature of democratic societies and a legitimate means for citizens to convey concerns to authorities.

According to the statement, Iran has faced years of what it described as unlawful and unjust sanctions, which have placed economic pressure on the population. These conditions, it said, led to protests by merchants in Tehran between December 28 and 31, aimed at raising concerns over economic policies.

Full text of the statement: In democratic societies, governments continuously seek to receive the opinions of the public regarding their policies and decisions. These opinions are regularly communicated to authorities through parliamentary representatives and, at times, through political parties, media outlets, surveys, and even protest gatherings. In fact, in societies where public protests are absent, the democratic and popular nature of such governments should be seriously questioned.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, over the past years, has faced various unlawful, illegitimate and unjust sanctions, primarily because Iran refused to allow its national destiny to be dictated by the United States or other self-proclaimed great powers. As a result, the Iranian people have endured significant economic pressures while steadfastly upholding their principles and ideals.

This situation has led to certain criticisms and protests regarding economic policies. From December 28 to 31, Tehran’s merchants staged demonstrations, attempting to directly convey their grievances to the country’s economic authorities. Immediately, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, through official directives, acknowledged the merchants’ protests and issued orders for the establishment of specialized committees to address these issues.

Simultaneously, as these meetings and specialized committees began their work, the peaceful, professional protests of the merchants were gradually diverted by certain elements. From January 1 to 7, these protests, which had remained entirely peaceful until that point, began to escalate into violence. At this stage, specific elements infiltrated the ranks of ordinary citizens, attempting to damage urban infrastructure during the demonstrations.

According to documented reports, from January 8 onward, the violent actions of these specific groups escalated into outright acts of terrorism, as they opened fire on police forces and ordinary citizens using firearms. Their objective was to increase the number of casualties and injuries, regardless of whether the victims were law enforcement personnel or civilians.

Concurrently, media outlets affiliated with the Zionist regime, by distorting reports and statistics, engaged in relentless efforts to shape the perceptions of international observers against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the country’s national security. In this context, the President of the United States, employing highly undiplomatic language, openly threatened Iran and promised military action by both the U.S. and the Zionist regime.

As a result, two entirely distinct fronts emerged within the country: the terrorists and rioters, who had no goal other than destruction, killing, and chaos, and the general populace, alongside law enforcement, who sought peace and aimed to confront opportunists.

On Monday, January 12, citizens across all Iranian cities took to the streets in large numbers to express their strong condemnation of the terrorist groups that had destroyed mosques, schools, banks, subway systems, ambulances, and other urban infrastructure. They called on national authorities to take decisive action against these rioters.

At present, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses sufficient documentation and evidence proving the links of these rioters with certain intelligence services, including Mossad. This information, along with the severe threats made by the U.S. President to attack Iran, has been submitted to the United Nations and to the Secretary-General of the organization.

The Islamic Republic of Iran expects impartial media outlets, rather than repeating baseless claims propagated by news agencies affiliated with the Zionist regime, to align themselves with the Iranian people and accurately reflect the facts.

It is important to recall that, following the brutal massacres in Gaza, the Zionist regime, during a twelve-day series of attacks on Iranian cities in June 2025, killed more than one thousand Iranian citizens, with the United States regime complicit in these crimes.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF) has successfully concluded a multi-phase humanitarian relief programme to support 36 journalists across the country who were severely affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, said a release.

Recognising that journalists are often among the first responders during disasters—yet frequently overlooked as victims themselves—the Forum initiated this intervention to support media professionals who suffered damage to their homes, loss of livelihoods, and destruction of essential work equipment. Importantly, the relief initiative extended beyond SLMMF membership, assisting affected journalists from Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities, reaffirming the Forum’s commitment to inclusivity and solidarity within the media sector.

The assistance was provided to journalists in the districts of Colombo, Kandy, Puttalam, Gampaha, Badulla, Kegalle, and Anuradhapura. Relief packages included sanitation kits, dry ration packs, essential household items, kitchen utensils, and direct financial assistance, addressing both immediate and short-term needs.

This humanitarian effort was made possible through the generous support of the Qatar Charity Sri Lanka Office, JJ Foundation Chairman Mr. Muhammad Haneef, and prominent businessman Mr. Peerkan Rizvi, whose contributions played a vital role in the programme’s success.

As part of the initiative, representatives of the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum personally visited the homes of 20 affected journalists in the Colombo, Kandy, Gampaha, and Puttalam districts to assess ground realities and extend direct support. In a further step to help journalists resume their professional responsibilities, SLMMF partnered with the Colombo District Mosques Federation to facilitate the replacement of professional equipment for two journalists in Colombo whose tools were destroyed by floodwaters.

Commenting on the initiative, M.B.M. Fairooz, President of the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, stated “Journalists play a critical role in keeping the public informed during times of crisis, often at great personal risk. Unfortunately, many of them also become victims of the same disasters they report on. Through this programme, we aimed not only to provide material assistance but also to stand in solidarity with our colleagues and strengthen the sense of brotherhood within the media fraternity.”

Fairooz also expressed his sincere appreciation to the donor organizations, individual contributors, and members of the SLMMF Executive Committee for their collective efforts, reiterating that the Forum remains committed to safeguarding the welfare and dignity of journalists regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya in her ThaiPongal day message, called upon all Sri Lankans to build a new Sri Lanka upholding harmony, noble qualities such as mutual respect and the protection of the religious and cultural rights of others.

The full text of the PM’s message:

“I extend my heartfelt greetings to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and abroad who celebrate the ThaiPongal festival, marking a pride tradition that expresses gratitude for the dignity of labour and the protection bestowed by nature.

This noble festivity manifests the world the inseparable bond between human life and nature. We are all creations of nature. There is no path we can take in defiance of nature or beyond it. In that sense, showing respect and gratitude in return for the blessings we receive from nature can be regarded as one of the highest human virtues.

As a nation, we stand today at a decisive turning point. We bear the collective responsibility of steering the country towards a “new era of revival” by bringing about a transformation in attitudes through policy and structural reforms. As a government we have accepted this responsibility and embarked with determination on a new year dedicated to the advancement of our nation even amidst numerous challenges,

As the saying goes, “We can place rice on our plate only if the farmer steps into the mud,” the commitment we make today for the future prosperity of the country is akin to preparing fertile fields in anticipation of a bountiful harvest. This ThaiPongal festival, which honours and expresses gratitude to nature, serves as a guiding light in nurturing citizens enriched with cultural values.

On this ThaiPongal Day, let us all resolve together to build a new Sri Lanka upholding harmony, noble qualities such as mutual respect and the protection of the religious and cultural rights of others.

I sincerely extend my wishes that all the hopes and aspirations of the Tamil people celebrating ThaiPongal may be fulfilled, and that this new beginning may bring happiness and prosperity to everyone.”