Liberal Party demands that President and PM must go

The Liberal Party in a statement issued last week called for the resignation of the president and prime minister in the context of the present country situation blaming the “Rajapaksa trio of the president, PM and Basil” for the failure of the administration.

It appealed to the government to maintain tolerance and restraint saying the agitation countrywide are a direct result of the mismanagement, corruption, nepotism, cronyism and failure of understanding the aspirations of today’s youth.

Despite the gap between 2015-2019, the Rajapaksa policies together with those of the “Yahapalana” regime contributed to continued macroeconomic mismanagement leading to the present situation.

Liberals expected ongoing shortages of fertilizer, fuel, gas, electricity, milk food, medicine including medical support equipment and breakdown of public and private transport will last for some time creating a crisis in the governing body and public life.

The immediate solution to the crisis is for the president and prime minister to step down as soon as possible, as demanded by the protesters, creating space for an interim administration in accordance with the constitution. Both could step down within a set time frame and not together, the statement said.

It expressed the view that there is no ready answer to the demand that all 225 MPs must also go as they too have contributed to the present mess. This is because they are representatives of the people. A proposed interim government may hold a general election in due course to enable election of untainted politicians to Parliament.

The people are demanding the confiscation of politicians’ loot and a first step towards this should be declaration of assets by parliamentarian and high officials. Reforms in the financial, banking, administrative and legal systems are needed. Violence during the agitation must be abhorred.

The statement expressed the Liberal Party’s appreciation of the dedication and commitment of the young protesters and warned that if this situation persists there will be a clear descent to anarchy.