Himalaya Declaration Exposed as Legal Blueprint for Sovereignty Erosion

By Jihan Hameed

Himalaya Declaration Exposed as Legal Blueprint for Sovereignty Erosion

Buddhist clergy and diaspora alliance pushes hidden agenda of federalism and war crimes trials

A little-known document signed in Nagarkot, Nepal in April 2023 is now emerging as one of the most dangerous blueprints for the geopolitical and legal dismantling of Sri Lanka. Titled the Himalaya Declaration, this joint statement by a select group of Buddhist monks and Global Tamil Forum members has been falsely marketed as a peace agreement. In reality, it is a carefully coordinated foreign-funded effort to restructure the Sri Lankan state, criminalise its military victory, and undermine its unitary constitutional framework.

At its surface, the document speaks of dignity, trust, and equal rights. But upon deeper reading, it becomes clear that the Himalaya Declaration is a calculated entry point for external legal and political control. A decorated war hero who reviewed the document described it bluntly. They have done it for money. This is part of the roadmap to take us to The Hague.

That warning cannot be ignored.

Clause 3 of the declaration calls for a new constitution that guarantees devolution of powers to provinces. It further demands full implementation of power-sharing in the existing constitution. This is a veiled reference to the 13th Amendment and a covert push toward federalism. Such proposals violate Article 2 of Sri Lanka’s Constitution which defines the country as a unitary state. There is no constitutional or public mandate to dismantle this core structure.

More troubling is the inclusion of accountability measures in Clause 5. The language is almost identical to that used in UNHRC resolutions calling for war crimes investigations and international prosecutions. With the Global Tamil Forum being one of the most active diaspora groups lobbying for foreign trials against Sri Lankan officials and military commanders, the intention is unmistakable.

The presence of senior Buddhist monks among the signatories is not a reflection of national consensus. It is a product of targeted foreign influence. Many of these clergy members are involved in reconciliation workshops and training programmes funded by Western embassies and NGOs. Their participation is being used to give Sinhala legitimacy to a deeply divisive agenda.

Even the foreign policy framing in Clause 6 reveals the true aim. While calling for compliance with bilateral and multilateral obligations, the declaration positions Sri Lanka as subordinate to a global legal order dominated by transitional justice mechanisms. There is no mention of non-alignment, no assertion of domestic legal sovereignty, and no protection of the national military victory.

This declaration is not just symbolic. Its legal phrases can be cited in future cases, used in diplomatic pressure, or referenced in tribunals. It is, in every sense, a foundational document of subversion disguised as dialogue.

To protect Sri Lanka, the following must be done immediately.

First, the government must issue an official rejection of the Himalaya Declaration and state unequivocally that no constitutional reform will be based on foreign-funded reconciliation agendas.

Second, a parliamentary committee should investigate the foreign financing and institutional partners behind this declaration.

Third, religious authorities must be asked to clarify whether monks have the authority to sign political declarations abroad in the name of the Sangha or the nation.

Fourth, public awareness must be raised so that the people of Sri Lanka understand that documents written in soft language can be used as hard legal instruments against national sovereignty.

This declaration must be treated as a national warning. It is not about peace. It is about reengineering the legal and political identity of Sri Lanka under the influence of external actors.

The silence of political parties and mainstream media on this issue proves how deeply compromised our defense mechanisms have become.

If we do not speak now, the future will be written by others.

Jihan Hameed
THE NATIONALIST