Ranil renews call for support to set up an all-party Govt.

• PM reiterates his stance in response to letter sent by MPs Harin and Manusha listing 7 questions
• PM says special Committee set up to expedite introduction of 21A to Parliament
• Police will act promptly to apprehend those who attacked Galle Face protestors
• Reveals plans underway to make representations to SC to gain pardon for Ranjan Ramanayake
• Says prior to general election, economy must be stabilised and calls for collective commitment

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says steps are being taken to introduce the 21st Amendment to the Constitution to Parliament as soon as possible and a Committee headed by MP Wijedasa

Prime Minister  Ranil Wickremesinghe

MP Harin Fernando

MP Manusha Nanayakkara

Rajapaksha is expediting the process.

The Prime Minister said this in response to a letter he sent to SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara who wrote to him on Tuesday seeking answers from him to seven questions.

In response to the question regarding a timeframe within which President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would step down, the Prime Minister said this is a decision that has to be taken by party leaders and he would go with the majority decision. 

“By enacting the 21st Amendment to the Constitution speedily, we can limit the powers of the Executive Presidency and have an Executive that is answerable to Parliament. A special Committee has been set up under MP Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha to look into this and expedite the process,” he said.

With regards to the progress of the investigations into the attacks on protestors at Galle Face Green (GotaGoHomeGama), the Prime Minister said he has made a clear statement about the incident and condemned the attacks. He said the Police will take all measures to act on the advice of the Attorney General to apprehend the attackers and the Speaker will keep Parliament appraised on the progress of the investigations every two weeks.

With regards to the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, the Prime Minister said that special investigation team is working on it and that, if necessary, assistance from foreign investigators will be sought in this regard.

In response to the question on how he plans to deal with corruption, Wickremesinghe said all setups will be taken to weed out the culture of corruption with the police and the Attorney General will be allowed to act without any interference.

On the query about a pardon for jailed former MP Ranjan Ramanayake, Wickremesinghe said that as he was sentenced by the Supreme Court, a special team will make representation to the SC in this regard to secure a pardon.

With regards to holding an early general election, the Prime Minister said he is committed to democracy and that he is not opposed to holding an election as soon as the economy is stabilised.

“Prior to that we have to work collectively with commitment for the next few months. Hence, I seek your assistance to set up an all-party Government,” he said.