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‘The streets are not an option’ – Sri Lanka’s president warns against anarchy

Addressing Sri Lanka’s Air Force Officer Cadets at the Trincomalee Air Force Base yesterday, Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked the armed forces for their intervention during the popular unrest in June and maintained that a change of government would only be possible via a parliamentary election.

“It is important to note that any changes to the government must be made through the proper channels, such as a parliamentary election. The streets are not an option for the parliament, and any attempt to subvert the established process would be a violation of Sri Lanka’s constitution and the rule of law” he noted.

The statement comes as Sri Lanka Supreme Court has overruled the president’s decision to delay local elections under the claim that the country was too poor to afford them. The court decision orders Sri Lanka’s treasury to fund the elections after they were put on hold indefinitely when the government refused to finance them.

Commenting on the mass protests of last year which saw the president’s residence under siege, Wickremesinghe noted his gratitude towards the armed forces for “protecting the Parliament”. During this unrest, Wickremesinghe’s own residence was set alight and mass demonstrations were subsequently held demanding his resignation.

“As we have seen in other countries, when a parliament is not safeguarded, chaos and anarchy can quickly ensue. Similarly, a country without a strong economy is also at risk of devolving into chaos” Wickremesinghe stated.

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