Can’t let fascists take over Sri Lanka: Acting President Wickremesinghe

Virendra Pandit

New Delhi: Sri Lanka’s Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday cautioned the people that the island nation faced a fascist threat to democracy and vowed to restore normalcy and stop the destruction of state property.

Hours after thousands of uncontrollable anti-government protestors stormed his office in Colombo, he said in a televised address that he had ordered military commanders and the police chief to do whatever was necessary to restore order.

The protesters had also briefly taken over the state-run television, Rupavahini.

In his first televised address since being appointed as Acting President after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives, Wickremesinghe said:

“We must end this fascist threat to democracy. We can’t allow the destruction of state property. The President’s office, the President’s Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s official residence must be returned to proper custody,” he said.

“Those who are in my office want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as Acting President. We can’t let them tear up our Constitution. We can’t allow fascists to take over. Some mainstream politicians also seem to support these extremists. That is why I declared a nationwide emergency and a curfew,” Wickremesinghe said.

He said as Acting President he is declaring a state of emergency and a curfew in the Western province after protesters stormed his office.

He said, according to intelligence inputs, protesters were to capture his office and Parliament, which prompted the action to impose an emergency.

Protesters have been demanding the resignation of both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe to restore normalcy in the country.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is likely to select a President on July 20.