By Yohan Perera   

People should decide on August 5 whether they are going to safeguard the independent commissions or whether they are going to allow the establishment of a dictatorial state, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.   

Speaking during a meeting he had with the members of National Lawyers’ Association at Sirikotha yesterday Mr. Wickremesinghe said people should use their vote at the general election to stop SLPP from forming a dictatorial state. 

 
“The members of the independent election commission that we established through the 19th amendment to the constitution are being attacked by those in the SLPP. Chairman of the election commission and Mr. Hoole another member of the commission is being verbally attacked after their decision to postpone the election to August.   
This is because those in SLPP wanted to have the election in June before a possible collapse of the economy. There will be more issues if the polls have to be postponed again in the event of a second wave of Covid-19,” he said.   

“The independence of the public service commission is being taken away by handing that service to a task force which comprises military men. Military men have been appointed to coordinate activities of the police,” he added.   
Mr. Wickremesinghe therefore said people should focus on safeguarding the 19th amendment to the constitution.