• No need to address President ‘Athigaru’

By Yohan Perera   

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said all steps will be taken to allow MPs to exercise their free will to elect a new President on July 20 and thereby work towards upholding the constitution.  “There are certain groups who are out to make undue influence on MPs on July 20, 2022 when they vote to elect a new President. Therefore all steps would be taken to ensure their security,” the Acting President said in a special statement.    

“I am not against the peaceful “Aragalaya”. However one needs to identify the difference between insurgents and protesters. It is the insurgents who have taken away the weapons of two policemen and have injured 24 army personnel. These insurgents are trying to create unrest next week. We cannot allow it. Unrest will lead to economic turmoil as distribution of essential items such as food, fuel and gas will come to a standstill. Therefore I have appointed a committee comprising service commanders and the IGP. They are in charge of maintaining law and order,” he said.   

“I will take quick steps to fully implement the 19th amendment once again. The new President will have to implement these reforms. I have also taken two other steps. One is that I have prohibited the use of the Sinhala word ‘Athigaru’ to the President. I have also decided to abolish the presidential flag. Let us all come under our national flag.   

I shall act as the President temporarily and therefore pledge to uphold the constitution.   “I also invite all parties to come to an agreement to form an all party government. It’s time to forget political aspirations of individuals. There should be a country for us to engage in politics. Therefore I invite all political parties to be a part of the process of rebuilding the nation,” he said.

• I shall act as the President temporarily and therefore pledge to uphold the constitution