Ranil, Karu should take blame for dissolution - UPFA

Ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya must take the blame for precipitating a “state of anarchy” in the country that eventually forced President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve Parliament nearly two years ahead of schedule, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) said today (10).

Addressing a special media briefing at the Prime Minister’s office, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader Dinesh Gunawardena charged that Mr Wickremesinghe’s Government did not seriously probe the alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Sirisena, which led the President to act to replace him in the end. He added that the decision to dissolve Parliament and seek a fresh mandate was the only way out of the current impasse.

He accused Mr Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of trying to create anarchy in the country through their conduct. He said Mr Wickremesinghe was forcibly occupying Temple Trees even after being legitimately sacked, while Mr Jayasuriya was acting outside the boundaries of his role as Speaker

Meanwhile, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa claimed that though the UNP, Western diplomatic missions and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) had been trying to create the impression that democracy in the country was in crisis, this was far from the truth. He said the majority of the country was in agreement with the decision to replace Mr Wickremesinghe as PM with Mr Rajapaksa.

All those who participated at the briefing insisted that President Sirisena had acted completely within the boundaries of the country’s Constitution when sacking Wickremesinghe, appointing Mr Rajapaksa and in finally dissolving Parliament.