Former Prime Minister and the Leader of the United National Party Ranil Wickremesinghe says monetary powers must be vested with the Parliament.
Speaking in Parliament today, former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the country is facing an economic turmoil and political turmoil.
The former Premier said Sri Lanka’s inflation has risen to 30 percent with the possibility of further increasing to 40 percent.
The former Prime Minister said the public is facing burdens from all aspects due to shortages of essential items including fuel and gas and scheduled power cuts.
Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the public are struggling to source two meals a day leading to them to take to the streets.
The former Premier said the political turmoil was created through the demand for the President’s immediate resignation to which the Head of State responded stating he will not resign.
Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the President has a responsibility to address the nation and table the programme in order to seek solutions and provide relief to the public while confirming the duties of a new Cabinet of Ministers if he was not ready to tender the resignation.
The former Prime Minister said if protests do not halt under such circumstance, then the Head of State must summon Party Leaders and obtain their views.
Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the process will be made easy through the new Cabinet which will be sworn in next week.
The former Premier said tri-forces must not be used to quell protests adding the military to his knowledge will never act in violation of the Constitution.
Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said this was made clear by the actions of the military during the 2018 Constitutional crisis.
The former Premier said in the event the military is used to quell protests, the economy will collapse leading to international communities ceasing contact with Sri Lanka.
