The United National Party has questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over his congratulatory message to newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, raising concerns over diplomatic protocol.

In a statement issued today, the UNP said it was “surprised” to see the Sri Lankan President extend personal congratulations to the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The party said that, as Head of State, congratulatory messages of this nature are generally reserved for fellow Heads of State and not foreign provincial or state leaders.

The UNP further questioned why President Dissanayake had not extended similar messages to other recently elected Indian state leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

President Dissanayake had earlier congratulated Vijay on being sworn in as Chief Minister, stating that Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu share deep historical, cultural and economic ties and expressing hope for stronger cooperation within the broader India–Sri Lanka partnership.