President expresses gratitude to military personnel for safeguarding democracy

 

President expresses gratitude to military personnel for safeguarding democracy President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the nation must pay tribute to the members of the military, who safeguarded democracy by protecting the Legislature from violent protestors who sought to suppress the Executive. 

The President further said that, if at that time violent groups entered the parliament and disrupted the Legislature, the country would have lost its government, thereby plunging the nation into complete disorder. President Ranil Wickremesinghe further expressing his views stated: “Today we organized this special ceremony to extend our gratitude to all of you for protecting the Parliament. 

“If we examine the incidents, that took place on July 09, the former President’s official residence was taken over by the violent groups; later, the Office of the President, which embodies the executive power of the President, was taken over. If the Parliament was seized, the legislative processes cannot entirely fulfilled, and therefore the Legislature cannot exercise its powers, resulting in the country having no government. 

In order to protect the Parliament, the system of governance, at that time, I requested the Heads of the Security Council, specially, General Shavendra Silva, and the Army Commander Lieutenant General Liyanage to safeguard the Parliament. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all, and extend my gratitude on behalf of the country, the Parliament, and the Government.