Category: News

Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella says the Samagi Jana Balawegaya did not engage in any form of discussion pertaining to appointing former Speaker of House Karu Jayasuriya to the post of Prime Minister.

Speaking during a media briefing today, MP Kiriella said the SJB Parliamentary Group nor the Working Committee discussed such a matter.

He added they will not bring in an outsider to the post of Prime Minister claiming that the SJB worked towards forming a government.

Kiriella also stated that the former good governance government handed over an economically sound government to the currently administration.

MP Kiriella also stated that the notion that all 225 Members of Parliament should resign, is being shared by supporters of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, adding that the SJB has no such opposition.

He challenged such groups to hold an election in order to witness the people’s mandate.

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.

Security forces are out in force across Sri Lanka with orders to shoot looters on sight amid continuing protests at the government’s handling of a devastating economic crisis.

Despite a nationwide curfew, there was a second night of arson attacks.

Shops near Colombo were torched, as well as a resort owned by former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son.

The ex-PM is holed up in a naval base after resigning on Monday when fury erupted over fuel and food shortages.

At least nine people have been killed and about 200 injured in unrest since Monday.

It began when government supporters attacked protesters who are demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former PM’s younger brother, should leave office.

Opposition politicians have warned the violence could have been staged to give the army a pretext to take power. Rumours of a possible coup have been fuelled by the presence of large numbers of troops with armoured vehicles on the streets.

“When there is a dangerous situation in the country, powers are given to the military to deal with it,” Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne told a news conference.

“Don’t ever think that we are trying to capture power. The military has no such intentions.”

Sri Lanka had already seen weeks of protests over its dire financial situation, which has caused the Sri Lankan rupee to plunge, provoking severe shortages of basic items such as food, fuel and medical supplies.

The worst trouble overnight was in the north of the capital, Colombo, where rival groups set fire to shops in the town of Negombo.

On Monday night, mobs burned more than 50 houses belonging to politicians, while a controversial museum dedicated to the Rajapaksa family was also razed to the ground in their traditional heartland, Hambantota, in the country’s south.

Shops, businesses and offices are shut for a third day on Wednesday under a nationwide curfew in place until Thursday morning.

A meeting between Sri Lanka’s political party leaders has been moved online over security concerns.

The streets of the capital, Colombo, bear the evidence of this week’s rioting – a heavy police presence, troops on the streets, and overturned and burnt buses after Monday’s violence.

Nonetheless, protesters continue to gather despite the curfew at Galle Face Green, the main protest site in Colombo. They insist President Rajapaksa has grossly mismanaged the economy and must stand aside.

He is the last Rajapaksa family member in office and the resignation of his brother as prime minister did nothing to placate demonstrators or bring calm.

Sri Lanka’s new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (R) and his Prime Minister brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, pose for a group photograph after the ministerial swearing-in ceremony in Colombo on November 22, 2019.

Protesters blame Gotabaya (right) and Mahinda Rajapaksa for the current crisis
President Rajapaska says he is holding talks with other political parties aimed at forming a unity government. But the main opposition says it will not be part of the interim administration unless the president stands down.

At present, there is no clarity on which political parties might come together to form such a government.

The political stalemate comes as Sri Lanka attempts to iron out a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – the island’s $81bn economy is near bankruptcy.

It has suspended its foreign debt payments, largely because it cannot service loans from China that paid for massive infrastructure projects.

While the pandemic hit the vital tourism sector and shrank Sri Lanka’s earnings and foreign exchange reserves, experts say problems have been exacerbated by populist tax cuts in 2019 and a disastrous ban on chemical fertilisers in 2021 that devastated crop yields.

Protesters gathered in front of Trincomalee Naval Base in the north-east after reports that Mahinda Rajapaksa had fled there with his family after escaping from his Colombo residence when it was besieged by crowds on Monday night.

The military confirmed on Wednesday that he was inside the base.

“We took Mahinda to the naval base for safety reasons,” the defence secretary said.

Earlier, there had been rumours that Mr Rajapaksa and others in the family had fled to India, which the Indian High Commission in Colombo denied.

Sri Lankans are still reeling from the violence that has erupted. Many politicians are sheltering in safe houses or avoiding appearing in public.

“It is not at all safe, particularly for politicians on the government side,” Nalaka Godahewa, until recently media minister, told the BBC. His house was among those torched.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, once celebrated by the majority Sinhalese as a war hero for defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels, has suddenly become a villain. Many blame his supporters for targeting anti-government protesters, which then set off a chain of violent events.

The Rajapaksas have always stood together, but this time, their differences are out in the open. The problem appears to have started after Gotabaya asked the family patriarch Mahinda to “take one for the team” and resign.

How the family, who have dominated Sri Lankan politics for years, overcome this crisis is now an open question.

The European Union (EU) condemns the recent vicious attack against peaceful protestors in Colombo, which triggered further violence after a month of peaceful demonstrations had shown, despite some isolated incidents, that Sri Lankans are able to exercise peacefully their right to freedom of expression.

While claiming that the EU and its 27 Member States are monitoring closely developments in Sri Lanka, the EU stated that it deplores the loss of life, including of a Member of Parliament, and the high number of injured people.

“The EU calls on the authorities to initiate an investigation into the events and to hold accountable those instigating or perpetrating violence. The EU urges all parties to refrain from violence and to show restraint.”

“The EU recalls the importance to safeguard the democratic rights of all citizens, and to focus on solutions that will address the significant challenges currently faced by the Sri Lankan’s.”

“Over the last few months the EU has provided humanitarian assistance, including for handling the COVID crisis and the ensuing challenges, and is actively looking at ways to further mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the most vulnerable people,” the statement added.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will ONLY accept the post of Prime Minister, when the President resigns, said Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Lakshman Kiriella.

“The Opposition produced to No-Confidence motions against the Government and the President. Since the Prime Minister stepped down, only the NCM against the President remains,” he told the media on Wednesday (11).

He said the NCM against the President was to be discussed at the Party Leaders meeting scheduled for Tuesday (10), and then following the cancellation it will be discussed on Wednesday (11).

The MP said the No-Confidence Motion against the President will be discussed at the next parliament session.

Lakshman Kiriella said the President must resign immediately, and thereafter Sajith Premadasa is prepared to accept the post of Prime Minister.

“This president is not accepted locally or internationally,” he told the media.

“The people question the existence of a President who cannot protect the lives of the people, as well the lives and property of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna politicians,” he added.

Leader of the National People’s Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed the need for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, and thereafter an interim government can be formed for a period of six months.

He further said that the NPP is ready to take control of the Interim Government that will be formed, adding that the support of other parties is required, and if that does not happen the NPP would function in the opposition.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake said authorities must arrest the Temple Trees conspirators who created the violence in the country, and produce them before the law.

“It is clear that Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers, MPs, Pradeshiya Sabha members, and others used state power to plan the violence,” he said calling on authorities to arrest them and produce them in court.

Further, he called on the law enforcement agencies, including the IGP and the Police, to take action to maintain the law and the peace in the country.

Dissanayake said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must immediately step down as his ‘solutions’ to the issues have not led to any form of stability in the country.

He also called on the Speaker to function as the Acting President, given that Sri Lanka does not have a Prime Minister.

He said the Government and Parliament do not represent the public mandate, and since there is no public trust on the government, a new government must be formed.

Dissanayake speaking to the media said the NPP is prepared to take control of the interim government, until an election is called for to establish a new government.

While calling for a full investigation into the attacks on peaceful protestors in Colombo, the US State Department has expressed its concern over the deployment of the military in Sri Lanka.

“Well, we’re concerned by the deployment of the military. We underscore, we stress that peaceful protesters should never be subject to violence or intimidation, whether that’s on the part of a military force or civilian unit,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday at the daily press briefing.

“More broadly, we’re deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence in Sri Lanka over the past few days. We condemn, as I said before, violence against peaceful protesters. We call for a full investigation, arrests, and prosecution of anyone instigating and involved in acts of violence. We are, as I said before, also closely monitoring the deployment of troops, something that is of concern to us, and we’re also closely following political developments and the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka after the resignation of the prime minister,” he said.

“We urge the government and political leaders to work quickly to ensure public safety and work together to identify and implement solutions to achieve long-term economic and political stability in Sri Lanka. The government must address the Sri Lankan people’s discontent over the economic crisis, including power, food, and medicine shortages, as well as their concerns about the political future of their country,” the spokesman added.