PM urges people to safeguard democracy and freedom

• In message to mark constitutional coup, urges people to put aside political differences for sake of country
• Says failure of coup victory for entire country
• Credits 19A for strengthening Judiciary, Police, and public service
• Says Speaker withstood threats to safeguard parliamentary democracy

As the country marked one year since the constitutional coup of October 2018, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday urged all Sri Lankans to put aside their political differences and safeguard democracy and freedom in the country

“Whatever your political beliefs may be, dedicate yourself to safeguarding democracy and freedom. We have to dedicate ourselves continuously to protect these achievements for the future of the country,” Wickremesinghe said in special statement issued to mark the October coup.

He said that, on a day like this (26 October), the Government elected by the people was removed in a conspiratorial manner. “A government with a majority in Parliament was removed without a reason, but after 52 days, we managed to overcome the conspiracy and restore democracy,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted what was achieved was not a victory for him personally or for the Government, or even those who gathered to defeat the conspiracy, but that it was a victory for the entire country.

“The fact that we were able to overcome these forces without shedding any blood or without any destruction is a victory for democracy in our country,” he said. 

The Prime Minister credited the victory to the enactment of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which strengthened the Judiciary, the Police, and public service, thus creating an environment in which they could act in a free and independent manner. 

“Because the Judiciary was made independent, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court were able to act without any fear or favour. They upheld the right of Parliament to appoint the Prime Minister. No one should be allowed to undermine the powers of Parliament,” he said.

The Prime Minister also thanked all those worked to defeat the constitutional coup.