State of emergency won’t be extended: President

• Says both the economy and the political system will be restructured

By Yohan Perera 

The state of emergency will not be extended, and it will end on August 18, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced yesterday. 

Speaking during the 35th annual conference of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), President Wickremesinghe said the emergency will be allowed to lapse.  

“I will not extend the emergency and will let it lapse on the 18th,” the President said. 
Mr. Wickremesinghe who promised a system change said both the economy and the political system will be restructured. “We intend to turn Parliament into a government and will have an oversight committee. There will be a committee on state enterprise reforms, ways and means committee. Five youth members from outside Parliament will be appointed to each Committee. We will also have a national council comprising all parties,” he said. 

Coming up with another move by the government, the President also announced that an office will be opened to get the diaspora involved in the development of the nation. 

“We will have to change the current electoral system as well,” he said. 

“This change will have to come from the present Parliament. If not OPA will not be able to have another apex awards presentation like it had today,” the President all said. 

• The President also announced that an office will be opened to get the diaspora involved in the development of the nation