Army Deployed In Colombo, President Refuses To Step-down

Army deployed in Colombo, as the President of Sri Lanka refuses to step down promising to appoint a new PM within a week: Sri Lanka Crisis.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa refused to step down on Wednesday amid ongoing protests against the Sri Lankan government’s failure to deal with the worst economic crisis since its independence.

However, he promised to appoint a new prime minister and youth cabinet this week, which would not include any members of the Rajapaksa family.

Earlier, security forces patrolled across the country in armored vehicles to deal with the situation and ensure security.

Parliament will be given more powers.

The army has also been deployed in the streets of the capital Colombo and its suburbs. Security forces have orders to shoot at sight those who loot or damage public property.

In a late-night address to the nation after meeting former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Gotabaya said that after the appointment of a new prime minister and government.

A constitutional amendment would be brought to give shape to the 19th amendment to the constitution, through which Parliament would be given more powers. Will go

Talks started with political parties.

The President said that he has started talks with political parties to prevent the country from going into a state of anarchy.

He promised that he would give an opportunity to the new Prime Minister and the government to launch new programs to take the country forward.

The new government will have a majority in the 225-member parliament.

Instructions for strict action against miscreants.

There is no government in the country since the President’s elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Prime Minister on Monday.

Terming the violence as unfortunate, the President said that he has directed the police and the three services to take strict action against the perpetrators of violence.

Demand for political stability.

In fact, earlier in the day, Sri Lanka’s central bank governor Nandalal Veerasingh had threatened to resign if the country’s leaders failed to bring about political stability soon.

He said that without political stability, it does not matter who is the governor of the central bank.

Demand not to implement a military rule.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne clarified that there will never be military rule in Sri Lanka.

He said, he is saying this with full responsibility, regarding the increasing role of the army in the ongoing political and economic crisis in the country.

Demand to resign from the presidency.

According to Gunaratne, Mahinda Rajapaksa is at the Trincomalee Naval Base. Seeing the danger, he was rushed to the naval base.

Once the situation becomes normal, they will be shifted to their residence or place of their choice. He is also a former President and possesses adequate security.

It is known that opposition parties are demanding the arrest of Mahinda for inciting violence against peaceful anti-government protesters and his elder brother Gotabaya’s resignation from the presidency for mismanaging the economy.

Urges people to end violence.

Before his address to the nation, President Gotabaya urged the public to end the violence. He said that it is time for the citizens of Sri Lanka to unite.

The president also called for talks with dissidents of the ruling SLPP and leaders of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) to end the political deadlock and appoint a new prime minister.

Curfew continued in the country on Wednesday as well. At the same time, the death toll in the violence rose to nine, including two policemen.