Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a State of Emergency with effect from today.
Wickremesinghe, has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notice, stating that he was of the opinion enforcing public emergency was required in Sri Lanka in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.
Accordingly, as Acting President in terms of Article 40(1)(C) of the Constitution, by virtue of the powers vested in him by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act No. 28 of 1988, Wickremesinghe has issued a Proclamation declaring that the provisions of Part II of that Ordinance, shall come into operation throughout Sri Lanka with effect from 18th July, 2022.
The State of Emergency has been declared ahead of a vote set to take place in Parliament to elect a new President.
Nominations will be accepted in Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday) and the election will take place on Wednesday.
