Sri Lanka President proposes lifting emergency regulations

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proposed to lift the powerful emergency regulations that were in effect since 2005.

Addressing the Sri Lanka parliament today, President Rajapaksa, in a special statement said the state of emergency will be removed and the proposal to remove the state of emergency will be presented to parliament as there is no need to administer the government under the state of emergency.

The President said that there was no need to maintain an emergency as security in the country has now been consolidated.
Highlighting that the country is continually in a peaceful situation since the end of the war in May 2009, the President said the laws under the constitution and parliamentary procedures suffice to safeguard the law and order in the country.
He noted that the measure has been taken to ensure a vibrant democracy in the nation and it is duty of every one to protect the freedom gained through eradicating terrorism.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe appreciated the President's order to remove the state of emergency.
The emergency regulations were continually imposed since the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in August 2005 by the Tamil Tiger terrorists.
Sri Lanka relaxed several provisions of the emergency law in May 2010 as the country was returning to normalcy after the conclusion of the war a year before.
(Photo by Nalin Hewapathirana)