• President Wickremesinghe vividly explained how he was going to violate the basic tenets of democracy, rule of law and aspirations of 22 million Sri Lankans
• The UN, the UNHRC, Human Rights Watch, and Sri Lanka’s donor countries have repeatedly urged the Ranil- Rajapaksa regime to refrain from violating human rights, and protect democratic rights of the people  

By Sandun A Jayasekera  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe closed the door for ever for the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of US$ 2.9 billion from the IMF or any significant financial support from other global financial agencies and also from donor countries to bailout Sri Lanka from the current precarious situation by making a reprehensible and egoistic statement in Parliament last Wednesday (23), the main opposition SJB said yesterday. 

President Wickremesinghe vividly explained how he was going to violate the basic tenets of democracy, rule of law and aspirations of 22 million Sri Lankans by saying that he would deploy the armed forces and impose emergency regulations to crush peaceful protests, dissents and peaceful gathering and even stop walking on the road without approval by the police, the General Secretary of the SJB, former Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said.  

“The message of the disdainful rhetoric of President-Wickremesinghe is that Sri Lanka is not a democracy anymore. His utterances clearly reflect that this is a failed state or a pariah state as its rulers are ready to stoop to any low to remain in power. This is not what 22 million Sri Lankans living in and out of the country, the international community, global financial agencies like the IMF, the World Bank, the ADB and our donor countries expect from Sri Lanka,” Madduma Bandara stressed.  

The UN, the UNHRC, Human Rights Watch, the international financial agencies and Sri Lanka’s donor countries have repeatedly urged the Ranil- Rajapaksa regime not to violate human rights, protect democratic rights of the people guaranteed under the Constitution and adhere to rule of law, abrogate the draconian PTA and make space for peaceful protests, dissent, peaceful gathering and also to safeguard media freedom and freedom of speech which have gleefully contravened by the government with impunity, Madduma Bandara charged.  
The IMF in no uncertain terms has declared that Sri Lanka needs a government that has a mandate to carry out the reforms mentioned in the EFF arrangement for US $ 2.9 Billion. It further said that political environment matters for the reforms to be carried out. Under these circumstances, can any right thinking Sri Lankan expect assistance from any country or agency to Sri Lanka where its leader cheerfully says that he is like Hitler, the most cruel, violent and despicable despot who started the WWII and murdered millions of innocent civilians? He asked.  

Madduma Bandara said the SJB was horrified and shocked to hear President Wickremesinghe’s arrogant speech. People in Sri Lanka must be ashamed to experience that kind boastful rhetoric, an act of hubris which will cost him dearly before long.