Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Presidential Secretariat, which was stormed by a sea of anti-government protesters in early July, resumed operation from Monday amid tight security, 107 days after the building’s entry gate was blocked, officials said.
The building’s entry gate has been blocked by the protesters since April 9. On July 9, the protesters stormed the building and occupied it. In the early hours of Friday last, police and security forces conducted a raid and took back control of the building from the protesters on the order of the crisis-hit island nation’s new President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The presidential secretariat which was occupied by the protesters from July 9 till Friday last is re-opened and the staff reported to work on Monday, officials said.
The secretariat resumed operations under a tight security cover, they said.
Wickremesinghe told diplomats that non-violent protests against his government will be allowed to continue. Western governments, the UN and human rights groups have condemned Wickremesinghe for using violence against unarmed protesters who had announced their intention to vacate the site. Wickremesinghe defended the crackdown and said that blocking government buildings was unacceptable.
SL gets new PM
Wickremesinghe appointed Dinesh Gunawardena, a loyalist of the Rajapaksa family, as the PM in a bid to restore political stability and mitigate the worst economic crisis that has virtually bankrupted the country. The formation of the new government took place hours after troops and police forcibly removed anti-government protesters camped outside the presidential office in a pre-dawn raid.
The 18-member cabinet was sworn in on President Wickremesinghe’s first day in office. Ali Sabry, who earlier headed the finance ministry, was appointed foreign minister. PM Gunawardena has been given an additional portfolio of public administration, home affairs, provincial councils and local government. The rest of the ministers were retained with their same portfolios while President Wickremesinghe continues to hold the crucial ministries of finance and defence.
