President Sirisena assures Mahinda of state protection , calls for peaceful celebrations

Police will arrest anyone resorting to violence - Ranil

by Zacki Jabbar-January 9, 2015

The National Democratic Front headed by the new President Maithripala Sirisena has assured former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he and his family would receive the full protection of the law.

Informed sources said that the comforting words had come after UNP and Opposition leader and Prime Minister in waiting Ranil Wickremesinghe had called on Rajapaksa early yesterday morning, when the former President had indicated that he would be leaving Temple Trees after having facilitated the swearing in of Sirisena as the new President last evening. Rajapaksa dressed in a casual red shirt left his residence of nearly ten years, a short while after his meeting with Wickremesinghe.

Rajapaksa congratulated Sirisena over the telephone and the latter in turn assured his former leader and friend for many years, until they fell out recently, that the former and his family need not worry about security since maximum state protection would be provided to them, sources revealed.

Sirisena, who was declared duly elected as President by the Polls Chief Mahinda Deshapriya around 12 noon yesterday having secured 51.28 percent of the votes cast at Thursday’s Poll appealed to all his supporters to celebrate the occasion in a peaceful manner without causing any hindrance to others.

Wickremesinghe, when asked at a press conference he gave around 10.30 a.m at his official residence in Colombo what had transpired during the Mahinda-Maithripala telephone conversation, replied "I don’t know. I do not have bugging equipment."

He declined to take further questions saying that the purpose of his briefing was to drive home the message that anyone resorting to violence in the process of celebrating the occasion would be arrested by the Police and depending on the situation even the army could be called in to maintain law and order.

"We have asked the Inspector General of Police to enforce the law strictly and not to leave room for any violence whatsoever," Wickremesinghe noted, adding that they were on a mission to change the violent political culture and absence of good governance which was a feature of the post-war administration run by the Rajapaksas.

"In keeping with the NDF’s policies it is essential that the new President take oaths in a peaceful environment. We call upon all Sri Lankans to join us in our efforts."

Wickremesinghe said that Rajapaksa was the President when the war against the LTTE ended and he had to be given credit and a rightful share in the combined efforts of past political and military leaders.