Colombo: Acting President Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said there is a fascist threat to democracy in the country and vowed to restore normalcy as well as stop destruction of state property, hours after anti-government protesters stormed his office.
In his first televised address since being appointed to the position after engaging with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ran for MaldivesWickremesinghe said he had ordered the military commanders and the police chief to do whatever is necessary to restore order.
“We must put an end to this fascist threat to democracy. We cannot allow 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.
“The people who are in my office want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as acting president. We can’t let them bring our tears Constitution, We cannot allow fascists to take over power. Some mainstream politicians are also seen supporting these extremists. That’s why I declared a nationwide emergency and curfew,” said Wickramasinghe.
Wickremesinghe said he has ordered the military commanders and the police chief to do whatever is necessary to restore order.
He said as acting president he was declaring a state of emergency and curfew in the western province after protesters stormed his office.
He said that according to intelligence, the protesters were to capture his office and parliament, which led to the imposition of emergency.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe to restore normalcy in the country.
In his first televised address since being appointed to the position after engaging with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ran for MaldivesWickremesinghe said he had ordered the military commanders and the police chief to do whatever is necessary to restore order.
“We must put an end to this fascist threat to democracy. We cannot allow 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.
“The people who are in my office want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as acting president. We can’t let them bring our tears Constitution, We cannot allow fascists to take over power. Some mainstream politicians are also seen supporting these extremists. That’s why I declared a nationwide emergency and curfew,” said Wickramasinghe.
Wickremesinghe said he has ordered the military commanders and the police chief to do whatever is necessary to restore order.
He said as acting president he was declaring a state of emergency and curfew in the western province after protesters stormed his office.
He said that according to intelligence, the protesters were to capture his office and parliament, which led to the imposition of emergency.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe to restore normalcy in the country.