Author: TELO Admin

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, condemning the initial actions that led to the unruly incidents on the 9th of May, says he has directed the Inspector-General of Police to conduct an impartial inquiry in this regard.

Delivering a special statement to the nation today (May 11), he said the armed forces and the police have been ordered to take stern legal action against people engaging in unruly behaviour.

President Rajapaksa noted that he would take steps to appoint a new Cabinet of Ministers and a Prime Minister this week, who can command a majority in the Parliament and earn the trust of the people.

He also expects to introduce constitutional amendments to strengthen the positive features of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and provide more powers to the Parliament.

Read the President’s full statement below:

Most Venerable Maha Sangha,
Other Religious Dignitaries,
Mothers and Fathers,
Brothers and Sisters,
Beloved Children, Friends,

At present, our country is facing the worst crisis in its history. The economic crisis that preceded this event created social and political instability due to the difficulties faced by the people.

As a solution to these problems, a common proposal was put forward by various parties to form a new government with a majority of parties represented in the Parliament. In the past, I have had many discussions with leaders of various parties and groups in this regard. I too accepted that idea and took some difficult and tough decisions to set the platform for this solution.

When the last Cabinet was replaced, a new Cabinet was appointed consisting of young MPs where a large number of former Senior Ministers as well as Rajapaksas were not appointed. Also, the Prime Minister resigned and an agreement was reached to dissolve the entire Cabinet and make room for a new Prime Minister and Cabinet.

But on Monday morning, May 9, as you all know, a very unfortunate situation arose. Based on this incident, riots broke out all over the country in a very short period of time. Even before the curfew was imposed and the tri-forces were deployed, this process took place in an organized manner throughout the country. Within hours, about nine people, including a Member of Parliament, were brutally beaten to death. Approximately 300 were hospitalized. Also, a large number of houses were set on fire. Looting began all over the country.

I strongly condemn without prejudice the original incident which led to these events. The IGP has been instructed to initiate investigations into the incident.

However, the series of murders, assaults, intimidation and destruction of property that followed cannot be justified. From the moment this incident took place, I have been taking steps to control the situation in the country with the involvement of the Secretary of Defence, the Chiefs of the Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police, the Chiefs of Intelligence and the Security Council.

At this juncture, the primary responsibility of the government is to ensure the safety of all citizens. Therefore, the three Armed Forces and the Police have been ordered to strictly enforce the law against the rioters. Steps will be taken to strictly enforce the law against all those who planned, supported and promoted this incident.

Therefore, I urge everyone to refrain from such acts of sabotage. I urge the responsible citizens of this country to look at the loss of life and property that has taken place so far and to condemn the groups that continue to spread hatred. While working to ensure the security of the country, I will work with all party leaders to bring about political stability in the country.

I am taking steps to form a new government to control the current situation, to prevent the country from falling into anarchy as well as to maintain the affairs of the government that have been halted. This week, I will appoint a Prime Minister who commands the majority in Parliament and can secure the confidence of the people and a Cabinet of Ministers.

Thereafter, I will take steps to amend the Constitution to re-enact the contents of the 19th Amendment to empower that Parliament.

The new Prime Minister of the new government will be given the opportunity to present a new programme and to take the country forward. There have also been calls from various factions for the abolition of the presidential system. After the new government stabilizes the country, the opportunity will be given to discuss with everyone and to work in this regard. I request the assistance in maintaining the state machinery uninterrupted to protect the lives of the people as well as their property and to provide the essentials to the people without allowing the country to collapse at this critical juncture.

Therefore, I urge all Sri Lankans to act with restraint and prudently at this juncture.

May the Noble Triple Gem bless you all.

Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Nimal Punchihewa says extremely violent public reaction to Monday’s mob attacks, on those who had been demanding the resignation of the government for over a month, is a grave warning to political parties, represented in Parliament.

In a brief interview with The Island, Attorney-at-Law Punchihewa emphasised the urgent need for political, electoral and constitutional reforms to address the issues at hand.

One-time member of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Punchihewa stressed Parliament had to fulfill its mandatory obligations.

“Financial discipline and enactment of laws are of pivotal importance. Such measures cannot be delayed further against the backdrop of widespread of violence against lawmakers. Parliament needs to take tangible measures to restore public confidence in democracy,” Punchihewa said.

Punchihewa insisted that violence couldn’t be condoned under any circumstances. Referring to acts of violence, including the setting fire to the Jaffna library on May 31 1981, and the July 1983 riots, Punchihewa said that political parties represented in Parliament should act decisively now, or face the consequences.

Asked to comment on organised attacks on the houses some lawmakers, representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the killing of Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale, at Nittambuwa, Punchihewa said that those who had instigated violence against the protesting public had never expected such a violent reaction.

Countrywide protests reflected the public mood, Punchihewa said. Those who wielded political power never realised the transformation of utter public despair, over the economic fallout, to anger, he added. Had they realised the real crisis, the government wouldn’t have allowed unprovoked attacks on protesting public, he said.

The EC Chairman noted that even if Temple Trees had planned Monday’s meeting, it should have been cancelled in view of the declaration of a State of Emergency. Political parties should take measures as quickly as possible to bring in the much-delayed reforms, Punchihewa said, underscoring the need for transparency in campaign financing and introduction of a recalling system as practiced in many countries.

Responding to another query, Punchihewa said that the EC strongly believed the time was not opportune for a general election, and even before Monday’s calamity a general election wouldn’t have been feasible. Therefore, there should be a consensus on an all-party interim mechanism to govern the country, and tangible measures had to be adopted to address economic woes with a recovery plan being put in place before an election could be conducted, Punchihewa said.

It was regrettable that public opinion had turned against the political party system soon after the celebration of the 90th anniversary of universal franchise, the EC Chief said, recalling how a group of youth representing the Galle Face protesters had explained to EC members their stand on the current political situation. They had spoken on behalf of the voiceless who really experienced the rapid economic decline due to a combination of reasons-ranging from poor economic management to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The EC chief said that perhaps the EC should explore ways and means of working with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to address the issues at hand. There was no point in denying the fact the political party system was in crisis.

Punchihewa pointed out that there had been several proposals from political parties as well as other groups, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for resolving the crisis, and a consensus had to be reached on them fast. All stakeholders had to be flexible and ready to improve and modify proposals on the table as the country experienced the worst ever economic crisis that now threatened to disrupt supply chains, he added.

Punchihewa pointed out that no less a person than Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had recently warned of a possible food shortage. That statement made in his capacity as the Speaker should be examined along with Finance Minister Al Sabry, PC’s confession in Parliament soon after his return from Washington, where Sri Lanka appealed for immediate IMF intervention.

According to Punchihewa, the EC had submitted its proposals to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as Romesh de Silva, PC outfit that recently finalized the draft constitution. Punchihewa said that all those concerned should act fast. The BASL could play a significant role in the overall process to restore political stability, Punchihewa said, warning further delay in consensus among political parties both ion and outside parliament would encourage lawlessness.

EC Chairman said that club-wielding youth checking vehicles on Monday in many parts of the country underscored hitherto unknown danger.

Prisoners were clearly among the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government supporters who destroyed the “GotaGoGama” protest site at Galle Face and the “MynaGoGama” protest site opposite the Temple Trees in Kollupitiya, and attacked peaceful protestors at the said locations, on Monday (9), alleged the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP).

Speaking to The Morning, CPRP Chairman Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera alleged that 600 prisoners were taken to the Prime Minister’s official residence, the Temple Trees, to support the attack on the protestors.

“We have strong evidence that they were given arrack (local liquor) before the attack. This is not the first time that prisoners were used for political purposes. Prisoners should be protected during their stay under the Prisons Department,” Perera further alleged.

“We urge Prisons Commissioner General (CG) Thushara Upuldeniya to step down from his post as it is clear that these prisoners were a part of the assault on the general public. Prisoners should be rehabilitated and should not be involved in such crimes. I think that Upuldeniya should punish them under the criminal law as more than 600 prisoners were taken to attack civilians.”

However, Prisons Commissioner and Departmental Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said that there is no truth behind this allegation. He claimed that these prisoners in question were under a particular relief scheme, and that therefore, a group of prisoners was taken out of the Watareka Prison on a daily basis for external construction work under the care of Prison officials.

“The purpose of this is to produce trained workers. When they returned to the Watareka Prison in Homagama after completing their service on Monday, they were attacked by an angry mob, and a group of prisoners was injured and hospitalised.”

In video footage circulating on social media, a person describing himself as a prisoner who was under the care of a jailor named Ramanayake, says that they were taken to construction sites from the Watareka Prison under a rehabilitation programme.

Meanwhile, buses transporting a group of prisoners were attacked by a mob on Monday evening (9), according to Commissioner General of Prisons N. Upuldeniya, with a total of 58 inmates reported missing following the incident, while 123 were held securely.

In a statement, the Prisons Department said that the inmates were being transported to the Watareka Rehabilitation Camp following training at construction sites at the time of the attack.

According to the Prisons chief, three jailors and 10 prisoners who sustained injuries in the attack were hospitalised.

In a statement, he said the Watareka Rehabilitation Camp had assigned 30 inmates to a construction site in Kollupitiya, 105 to a construction site in Rajagiriya, and 45 to Battaramulla. The buses were transporting the inmates back to the rehabilitation camp, the Prisons chief added.

Further, the Prisons chief also vehemently denied the social media claims that these inmates were used to attack anti-Government protesters.

The Party Leaders meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow (11), has been canceled.

The meeting, which was due to take place at the Parliament, has been cancelled taking to account the problematic situation which has arisen regarding the security of the MPs, said Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Accordingly, the party leadership meeting is expected to be held next Monday (16), and that too is uncertain, the Speaker added.