COLOMBO, Sept 20 – Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for opposition unity to resist what he termed attempts by the Anura Kumara Dissanayake government to establish a “constitutional dictatorship.”
Making his first public appearance since his arrest last month, the 76-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader told party members and supporters at the UNP convention that political differences must be set aside to safeguard multi-party democracy.
“Forgetting all policy differences we must unite to protect multi-party democracy,” Wickremesinghe said.
He urged opposition parties to organise 1,000 joint rallies and launch satyagrahas across the country.
“I know some of you are experienced in leading Paada Yatras. So let us unite and stand together against this constitutional dictatorship,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Sri Lanka following youth-led protests that led to a change in government earlier this month.