President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has revoked the proclamation pertaining to the declaration of public emergency in Sri Lanka with effect from midnight today (April 05).

This was announced in a Gazette Extraordinary published by the Secretary to the President, Gamini Senarath, on the directives of the Head of the State.

On the 01st of April, a special gazette notification was issued declaring a public emergency in Sri Lanka with immediate effect, and the move was said to be in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community as it is expedient, the gazette read.

It was done by virtue of the powers vested in the Head of State by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act, No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act, No.28 of 1988.

A public emergency was declared just a day after the mass protest staged near the presidential residence in Mirihana on March 31 sparked a series of demonstrations across the country, as people took to the streets against the government.

The following evening, the government imposed a countrywide curfew from 6.00 p.m. on April 02 until 6.00 a.m. on Monday (April 04).

The government clarified that emergency regulations and curfew were invoked with the sole intention of ensuring peace and safety of public life and public and private property.

Further, the government reiterated that it is equally bound to protect the freedom of expression, the right to peaceful protests as well as the right to live in peace and public and private property.