Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said while working to ensure the security of the country, he will work with all party leaders to ensure political stability in the country and appoint a new Prime Minister and a cabinet of ministers within this week.
The President, addressing the Nation this evening in a televised speech said he is working to form a new government to control the current situation and to maintain the current state of affairs in order to prevent the country from becoming anarchic.
“This week I am working to appoint a Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers who will win the confidence of the majority in Parliament and can ensure the confidence of the people of the country,” he said.
The President also said that after appointing the new Prime Minister and the cabinet he will work to move a constitutional amendment to re-enact the contents of the 19th Amendment in a manner that gives it more powers to the Parliament.
“The new Prime Minister will be given the opportunity to present a new program and take the country forward,” he said.
Noting that various parties have requested to abolish the executive presidency, the President said after establishing stability in the country, the new government will be given the opportunity to discuss the matter with all parties and adopt the necessary measures.
The President requested the public to support him to maintain the state mechanism without allowing to collapse.
“At this critical juncture I request your support to continue the functioning of the state mechanism to protect the lives of the people and their property and to provide all the necessities for the people without allowing the country to collapse,” he appealed.
“Therefore, I earnestly urge all Sri Lankans to act peacefully and prudently at this juncture.”
Speaking about the violence that took place in the nation earlier this week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa strongly condemned the original incident which led to the subsequent violence and said that the Inspector General of Police has been instructed to conduct investigations.
However, he said the series of atrocities, including subsequent murders, assaults, intimidation and destruction of property, can never be justified.
“From the moment this incident took place I have been contacting the Security Council, including the Secretary of Defense, the Chiefs of the Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police, the Chiefs of Intelligence and taking steps to bring peace to the country,” he said.
“At this juncture, the primary responsibility of the government is to ensure the safety of all citizens. The three Armed Forces and the Police have been instructed to strictly enforce the law against the rioters. Steps will be taken to strictly enforce the law against all those who planned, aided and abetted this incident.”
“Therefore, I urge everyone to refrain from such subversive activities. I urge the responsible citizens of this country to consider the lives and property damage that has taken place so far and condemn the gangs that are spreading hate,” the President said.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
