UN chief calls for security of all Sri Lankans in political crisis

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure peace and safety of all Sri Lankans and respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process amid deepening political crisis in the country.

Farhan Haq, UN deputy spokesman, said on Saturday that Guterres “underlines the utmost importance of respecting democratic processes and institutions and resolving differences in accordance with the rule of law and due process.”

Sri Lanka has been facing a political turmoil since Oct. 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapakse to the post, which means the cabinet was automatically dissolved.

Sirisena dissolved the parliament late Friday and declared Jan. 5 as the date for a snap parliamentary election.

-Agencies