By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government has decided to keep the post of IGP vacant at a time when gun violence is at an all-time high, MP G.L. Peiris said, addressing a press conference in Colombo.Prof. Peiris said that the government is encouraging chaos because it wants to make it difficult to have a peaceful presidential election next year.He said that in 2023, there have been 81 shooting incidents. 40 people have died from these attacks.

“This is the time when the police need strong leadership. IGP C.D Wickramaratne’s tenure ended on 26 June 2023. He has been given two extensions. The second extension ended on 09 October. There is a hierarchy in the police, and the IGP is on top. There is a delay in appointing a new one because of the internal squabbling within the government. This is endangering the people”.

Prof. Peiris said that the government has an obligation to appoint a new IGP immediately. There is anarchy in the country, and almost every day there is a shooting incident, he said.

The MP added that presidential elections need to be held before September 2024. The local council elections should have been held before 15 March 2023.

“The Supreme Court asked the government to release the funds allocated by the budget to hold local council elections. The Minister of Finance openly said he would not release the money. Is Sri Lanka a democracy now? The state of provincial councils is even worse. These elections have not been held for four and a half years. The government says the current election laws are faulty, and they will only hold elections once they have ironed out the issues. The real reason for not holding elections is that the government knows that it will lose the election. However, these stratagems will not work with the presidential elections,” he said.

Prof. Peiris mentioned that the government is now trying to create a chaotic situation that would make holding a peaceful presidential election impossible. One way of doing it is through the laws the government wants to pass in Parliament, he said, adding that the Online Safety Bill is one of these attempts.

“The government wants to appoint an all-powerful committee that would decide what is true and what is false. The President can appoint members, and he can get rid of them anytime he wants. The Constitution says the constitutional council must appoint independent commissions. However, this committee is appointed by the President. Can you trust such a committee? If these bills become law, holding a free and fair election would be impossible,” Prof. Peiris said.