The ‘Lanka Sabha’ issued a statement that the government’s decision to withhold the funds allocated for the local government elections is an unjust and arbitrary action that will have long-term consequences and the government, which sponsored a grand concert with public money for the Independence Day, has no moral right to withhold the funds allocated for the elections.
If a government that defaults on debt to external creditors and defaults on its responsibility to the outside world declares that it does not have the funds to hold an election, such a government has no legal power to stay in power any longer. It is also stated that the government is requested to act promptly to provide resources.
The ‘Lanka Sabha’ says that it is a feature of any democracy to give the citizens the opportunity to appoint representatives at the appointed time and if the people miss that opportunity, it is confirmed that they are subject to dictatorship.
The ‘Lanka Sabha’, which says that deploying thousands of police officers with water and tear gas attacks to disperse the protests is not the solution, emphasizes that the government cannot get the support of the sectors needed to get rid of the economic chaos until it is in power blind to the reality.
The council further states that the unity and democracy of the country is needed to face the political and economic challenges ahead.
Colombo Bishop Dushantha Rudrigu, President of the Ceylon Council, and Rev. Keertisiri Fernando, Curator General of Kurunegala, have signed this announcement.
