President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that during his Presidency, no one will be allowed to breach the law and order of the country.
He said that he will prioritise doing what is right over doing what is popular, adding that presenting popular ideas can lead to the destruction of the country.
President Wickremesinghe was delivering a special address to the Tri Forces and Police officers and other rankers at the Air Force Base, Anuradhapura, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
President Wickremesinghe said that no one is entitled to engage in violent protests on the streets, but all political parties have the right to express their opinions or criticise him in a peaceful manner.
He emphasized the importance of doing the right thing, and said that he presented the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement to Parliament to assess whether the parliamentarians had the courage to make the right decisions for the betterment of the country.
The President referred to the IMF agreement as an example and expressed his expectation for everyone’s assistance in making the IMF program successful. He also said that if the country adopts a fresh approach and embarks on a new journey, it can achieve significant development within the next 25 years.
The President said that Sri Lanka will win the economic war, similar to the successful fight against terrorism, adding that measures would be taken to establish economic independence in the country.
The President said that the Armed Forces and the Police will continue to play a crucial role in achieving economic independence. He expressed his gratitude towards the Armed Forces for fulfilling their responsibility, as without their efforts, Sri Lanka would have become an anarchic state. He also said that the ongoing competition between world powers is affecting the Indian Ocean, and he intends to take action as the President to protect Sri Lanka from this influence.
The President said that future military situations can be shaped by technology and knowledge, unlike in the past and highlighted the need for the Armed Forces and the Police to be equipped with modern technology to overcome future challenges. The President initiated the Defence 2030 program, aiming to strengthen the Defence Forces of Sri Lanka.
The President also said that stringent laws will be introduced to combat the drug scourge, and no amnesty will be granted to drug offenders. He said that he had instructed the Minister of Law and Order Tiran Alles, and Justice Minister Dr. Wijayedasa Rajapakshe, PC, to take strict action against such offenders and to use the support of the Armed Forces and Police/STF in this effort.