Ceylon Chamber urges Speaker not to delay process of electing new President until 20th

• Requests Speaker to facilitate the election of President through parliament with immediate effect without waiting till 20th
• Tells protestors to be calm and patient and maintain law and order to allow parliamentary process
• Urges protesters to vacate government premises that are being forcefully occupied
• Requests defence authorities to maintain law and order

Premier business chamber, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) yesterday urged the Speaker of Parliament not to delay the process of electing a new President till July 20th and to have it done with immediate effect to usher political stability in the country. 

“The Chamber urges the Speaker not to delay the process of electing a new President till the 20th and to have it done with immediate effect as a matter of utmost urgency,” a CCC statement said. 

“We also urge all political party leaders and members of parliament to make every effort to agree unanimously on candidates for the post of President and Prime Minister as that would be the need of the hour given the acrimonious political environment we have experienced in recent times,” it added.

Speaker’s office yesterday acknowledged that it had received a letter from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa informing of his resignation and said after verifying its accuracy and legality the official announcement of President Rajapaksa’s resignation would be released today. 

Meanwhile, recognising the historic contribution made by the protesting public in creating significant changes in the political landscape of the country, the Chamber urged all concerned to be calm and patient, maintain law and order and not disrupt the parliamentary process that can deliver a solution to this unprecedented political crisis. 

“We appeal to all protesters to vacate government premises that are being forcefully occupied to ensure that public property is not damaged,” the statement noted. 

The Chamber also requested defence authorities to maintain the law-and-order situation in the country.