President Ranil Wickremesinghe says, during his tenure as the Head of State, he will not tolerate any breach of law and order in the country.
He emphasized that he would prioritize doing what is right over doing what is popular, and that presenting popular ideas can lead to the destruction of the country.
He made these remarks this evening (April 01) during his address to the Tri-Forces and the Police officers and other rankers at the Air Force Base, Anuradhapura, as the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
He asserted that no one is entitled to engage in violent protests on the streets, but all political parties have the right to express their opinions or criticize him in a peaceful manner.
The Head of State went on to emphasize the importance of doing the right thing, and mentioned that they presented the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement to the parliament to assess whether the parliamentarians had the courage to make the right decisions for the betterment of the country.
The President referred to the IMF agreement as an example and expressed his expectation for everyone’s assistance in making the IMF program successful. He also stated that if the country adopts a fresh approach and embarks on a new journey, it can achieve significant development within the next 25 years.
The President asserted that Sri Lanka would win the economic war, similar to the successful fight against terrorism, adding that measures would be taken to establish economic independence in the country.
He acknowledged that the armed forces and police would continue to play a crucial role in achieving economic independence, and also assessed the actions of the armed forces and police in maintaining law and order during the previous year.
The President expressed gratitude towards the armed forces for fulfilling their responsibility, as without their efforts, Sri Lanka would have become an anarchic state. He also mentioned that the ongoing competition between world powers is affecting the Indian Ocean, and he intends to take action as the President to protect Sri Lanka from this influence.
The President emphasized that future military situations can be shaped by technology and knowledge, unlike in the past. He highlighted the need for the armed forces and police to be equipped with modern technology and knowledge to overcome future challenges. The President initiated the Defence 2030 program, aiming to strengthen the defence forces of Sri Lanka.
Promising to introduce stringent laws to combat the drug scourge, he said no amnesty would be granted to drug offenders.
The President said that he had instructed the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to take strict action against such offenders and to utilize the support of the armed forces in this effort.
Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Minister of State for Defence; Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President; General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd), Secretary to the Ministry of Defence; General Shavendr; Silva, Chief of Defence Staff Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage; Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshan Pathirana; Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera; Inspector-General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne; and around 1,200 other rankers of the Tri Forces and Police were present on this occasion.
