The country will collapse again if the new administration deviates from Ranil Wickremesinghe's policies, warned UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena. He stated that if this happens, the experienced team led by former President Wickremesinghe will step in to rescue the people once more.

Speaking at an electoral meeting in Galle, Abeywardena argued that the recent presidential election defeat was not just a loss for Wickremesinghe but for the entire nation.

"The new government appears to be following the same path as former President Wickremesinghe. If they change course, the country will face another collapse. Based on their current direction, the risk is evident. However, Wickremesinghe and his experienced team will always be there for the people," he said.

"If the country collapses again, don’t blame us or come to our homes. Blame the other group. The problem is that they lead secretive lives, and there is no information about their whereabouts," he added.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced today (19) that he has rejected a request from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for a range of privileges, including 16 chefs, 163 security personnel, 30 umbrellas, and over 20 vehicles.

Speaking at the inaugural General Election rally in Tangalle, Dissanayake stated that, moving forward, Wickremesinghe would be entitled to only three vehicles, in line with current regulations and circulars.

"They have enjoyed these perks for so long that they now believe they are entitled to them as a right. We have a clear mandate from the people to put an end to the misuse of public funds, and the NPP is committed to delivering on that promise. We will review the security arrangements for former presidents, and perks will be provided accordingly. But there will no longer be any room to misuse public money under the guise of security for former leaders," he stressed.

Dissanayake also mentioned that the government plans to introduce new legislation to prevent former Presidents from receiving unnecessary benefits funded by the public.

Additionally, he revealed that two ambulances previously kept at the residences of Wickremesinghe and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been recalled, underscoring that such resources should not be considered personal property.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated today (17 October) that experienced individuals are essential in Parliament to tackle the economic crisis.

In his statement, Wickremesinghe said, "Those who have worked alongside me over the past two years have gained the necessary experience to handle economic challenges, and they must be part of Parliament. Whether in the Opposition or the Government, Parliament cannot function effectively without this expertise. Attempting to do so will result in failure to achieve the objectives."

He further mentioned that the new Government faces the challenge of increasing state revenue to 17% of GDP by 2027, the year Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin repaying its foreign debts. To achieve this, Sri Lanka needs economic growth of at least 1% each year.

"Experienced leaders should be in Parliament. I have a team that supported the effort to end the country’s bankruptcy. We are contesting the election under my leadership, and I ask the public to vote for my team," Wickremesinghe added.

President’s Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadde says the pardon granted to former MP Ranjan Ramanayake by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is illegal owing to the fact it is based on at least two known conditions that violate Ramanayake’s fundamental rights as a citizen.

“In his affidavit to the courts, Ramanayake has said he would not make statements critical or derogatory in nature about the courts in the future. This should not have been included in the affidavit. He, himself has curtailed his fundamental rights.” he said.

Walaliyadde also noted that a person's freedom of speech can not be curtailed or taken away through a Presidential pardon. He pointed out that the official document granting the pardon has not been made public, thereby concealing the conditions under which the pardon was granted to Ramanayake.

“No one knows what these conditions are but they must be legal. How can a President grant a pardon while violating a citizen’s fundamental right accorded by the constitution,” he asked. According to him, such a conditional pardon contravenes the constitution of Sri Lanka.

“The conditions that he cannot engage in politics and that he cannot speak about the courts are not legal. Therefore the pardon granted is invalid as well and makes it illegal” he added. Walaliyadde made these comments while attending a television interview recently.

The Japanese government has denied claims it plans to host a debt restructuring conference for Sri Lanka. In a press conference held yesterday, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi said there is no preparation to hold such a conference with Sri Lanka.

“We are carefully monitoring the grave economic situation in Sri Lanka. Given the humanitarian situation in the country we are currently implementing plans to provide humanitarian aid in the form of pharmaceutical products and food to the country” he said.

“We hope the Sri Lankan government in coordination with the IMF are trying to implement financial and economic solutions while ensuring transparency. Our country will carefully monitor the situation in Sri Lanka and discuss with Sri Lanka or other international donor organisations” he added.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe had told Reuters this month that Sri Lanka would ask Japan to invite the main creditor nations to talks on restructuring bilateral debts. He said he would discuss the issue with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo next month.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya says President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the meeting with the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday, ruled out the possibility of an election in the immediate future.

Despite an invitation to join the government, Premadasa had declined the offer again.

According to SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the party had asked for an election to form a government with a fresh mandate to govern the country. However, the president had ruled it out the request.

The Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has asked President Ranil Wickremesinghe to facilitate the return of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Sri Lanka.

The request had been made by the SLPP during a meeting with the President at the President’s Secretariat recently.

Expressing his views, SLPP’s national organiser former minister Basil Rajapaksa assured the President the party will provide their fullest support to the President to build the country by solving the current economic crisis.

Rajapaksa had also requested that former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should be allowed to return to the island safely. Political sources say this was the main request the party had for the President.

At the meeting, the SLPP was represented by Prasanna Ranatunga, Sagara Kariyawasam, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Johnston Fernando, and Pavitra Wanniarachchi, Namal Rajapaksa and Sanjeeva Edirimanna while Sagala Ratnayake, Vajira Abeywardena, Ruwan Wijaywardena and Shamal Senarath were also in attendance.

Government sources claim an all-party government will be unlikely given the current situation.

According to sources this is because the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, National People’s Power, Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Tamil National Alliance seem unlikely to join the government as political parties.

Because of this, the President has turned his focus on implementing an all-party program instead of an all-party government.

It is reported that the President has held discussions with all political parties in parliament except the National People's Power and obtained their proposals.

Another discussion chaired by the Prime Minister was held in Parliament on 12 August. But sources said that this discussion had also ended without a solution.

Currently some parties have agreed to take on Ministerial portfolios while others have refused. Some parties have agreed to not join the government but support it while remaining on the outside.

It is reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has explained the facts at the meeting of the ruling party MPs group.

The proposals given by the parties will be given to each party and it is planned to prepare the program by taking comments next week. 18 ministerial posts of the existing government have been appointed so far. The number of ministers and state ministers can also increase due to the arrival of MPs from different political parties sources said.

However, it is also reported that the state ministers will take oaths next week.Meanwhile, the sources added that more than 15 MPs, including senior members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, are ready to support the President's program.

Human Rights Watch, an international rights organisation has said President Ranil Wickremesinghe, should ensure that his administration adopts measures to protect the basic rights of all Sri Lankans. The organisation said this in a letter outlining key human rights concerns it has on Sri Lanka. 

“The government should prioritize protecting the public from further hardship by putting in place appropriate social protection policies and addressing endemic corruption while respecting fundamental rights, including freedoms of expression and association, and ending abuses by the security forces,” it said. 

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch pointed out that while Wickremesinghe faces immense challenges, imposing draconian emergency regulations, politically motivated arrests of protest leaders, and heightened surveillance of activist groups will not solve Sri Lanka’s dire problems. 

“Sri Lanka’s partners have been clear that international economic assistance will only be effective if the government adheres to human rights and the rule of law and addresses the root causes of the crisis.” she noted. 

Human Rights Watch called on President Wickremesinghe among others to ensure that people are able to freely and peacefully express their views without fear of reprisal or arrest, Withdraw emergency regulation provisions, and Announce a formal moratorium on the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Establish a new social protection system and Conduct independent and impartial investigations into allegations of serious human rights abuses and high-level corruption. 

Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe today evening to discuss the implementation of a national all party program. 

The President's Media Division on 20 July confirmed President Wickremesinghe had extended an invitation to all parties to hold talks. In the invitation Wickremesinghe said initial plans required to implement a systematic economic reform programme are being formulated, while preliminary measures are also being undertaken for the creation of economic stability.

In a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday agreed to meet the former on 5 August to discuss the implementation of an all-party program. 

In his letter, Premadasa said that he accepts President Wickremesinghe's invitation for a dialogue on the next steps, including the 19th constitutional amendment and the re-introduction of the parliamentary oversight committee system, to find solutions to the country's economic and social crises. 

“The economic, political and social crisis in our motherland must be brought to an end and the necessary measures should be taken urgently to restore people's lives,” he said.