Kumudesh warns of anarchy over appointment of Ranil as new PM

… demands arrest of Mahinda, others

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Trade unions would lay siege to the Presidential Secretariat if the President did not respect the wishes of the people, Joint-convener of the Trade Union Coordinating Center, Ravi Kumudesh, told The Island yesterday.

Kumudesh said that the appointment of UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, on Thursday, was a clear indication that the President did not respect the wishes of the people.

“He can’t understand what the people want and thus the country will become anarchical. The President is despised by the people. Instead of honestly engaging with the people, the President is trying to save his skin by making a deal with Wickremesinghe. This is not the way to reach a consensus. He is trying to get him and his family out of trouble,” Kumudesh said.

Kumudesh said that Wickremesinghe had a history of making questionable political deals. Wickremesinghe accepted the position of Prime Minister, despite his party having just one seat in Parliament and it showed that he too had not changed, Kumudesh said.

“We sent the President a letter on Friday (13) calling for the arrest of Mahinda and others for assaulting peaceful protestors on 09 May, which led to a few days of chaos,” he said.