Cannot allow anarchy in the name of human rights

• Those who claim to protect human rights live off the money sent from abroad
• Rejects Opposition Leader’s claim that he asked for the Presidency   
• Our naval forces should be increased by 2030

 By Yohan Perera  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday emphasized that he will never allow violence and anarchy to prevail under the guise of human rights, adding that if any party engages in such an attempt, the security forces will be used to suppress it completely.   

Under such circumstances, the President emphasised that everyone, from the lower officer of the army to the rank of field marshal is obligated to fulfill their responsibility.   
The president said he also wanted to protect human rights but violence and anarchy could not be allowed. He charged, only those foreign funded elements were doing so.  
“I also want to protect human rights. Anarchy and violence cannot be allowed to encroach on human rights. Human rights cannot be used to create violence and anarchy. Those who cause violence in the name of human rights cannot be protected,” he said  

“Some claim today that they are the ones who protect human rights. What have they done? At least we have done these in practice. We have established independent commissions. Before that, the government had brought the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.  

These people claim to protect human rights but live off the money sent from abroad. That is the reality. Can anybody stand up and tell me they didn’t? I know about these people. I have worked with them. I protected them. They are shouting at me today. We cannot allow chaos in the country in this way,” he said.  
The President also rejected claims by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that he had asked for the Presidency.  
“Our Opposition Leader also said today that I asked for this presidency. I didn’t ask for this. I accepted this because of the situation in the country. The Mahanayake Theros also requested me. I didn’t go and ask them. I didn’t write letters. Today, the Leader of the Opposition has forgotten the letter he sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 12,” the President said tabling the Opposition Leader’s letter to then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  

The President also requested that this entire letter be included in the Hansard.  

With reference to MP Vijitha Herath’s claim that Ranil Wickremesinghe was able to become the President thanks to the ‘Aragalaya’, the President said that it was not true.  
“Not because of the merit of the Aragalaya, if the president of this country goes, the Prime Minister should take that position. Besides, according to the law, I should have been the acting president. My house was set on fire, I was told to get out. But, I didn’t quit, that’s why I’m here,” he said.  

Today, some members of the clergy are protesting and causing a disturbance. The Sangha has religious activities to attend. They should engage in those activities. It is a different matter that lay people are involved in protests.  

I would like to remind the Minister of Education that not a single university student is in custody. Wasantha Mudalige was a university student for 8-9 years. This is very important. I left university at 21. Although Mudalige is 31 years old, he is still a university student. A student can only be given one extra year. After that, they should have to leave the university.  
Also he said the security forces are constitutionally bound to safeguard the government institutions and to prevent any attempt to topple the government through illegal means.  
The President said a certain TV Channel attacked him and that this channel filed a court case to remove his director of security. “ It was I who should have filed a Human Rights Petition against the burning of my official residence,” he said in this regard.  

Commenting on the military, the President said that the government is working according to the Security 2030 report.  

“It is impossible to say that there is no threat in the world. These conditions are changing. Not the 1971 threat, the 80s, or the Easter Sunday incident. These threats happen in different ways. We must remember that. We must look at global conditions. We need to focus on the Indian Ocean. Our naval forces should be increased by 2030. The army may decrease.   
The Air Force may have more fighter jets. Drone technology is needed. By 2040, this situation will increase even more. We want to see how this will continue. We need to reduce our defence expenditure to maintain 3%-4%,” the President added.

• Today, some members of the clergy are protesting and causing a  disturbance. The Sangha has religious activities to attend. They should  engage in those activities