Sri Lankan Parliament extended the state of emergency for an additional month this Wednesday, a move initiated by Ranil Wickremesinghe, who acted as the country’s interim president, despite loud opposition from protesters and major opposition forces.
The regulation gained passage with 120 deputies voting in favor, 63 voting against, and 41 not present, according to reports from the Daily Mirror. Wickremesinghe’s July 17 statement highlighted aims to strengthen public protection and assure security amid a volatile wave of protests that have gripped the nation.
The decision followed the departure of the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who left the country to travel to Malaysia. His exit drew sharp criticism from segments of the public, who expressed solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka and questioned the government’s handling of the crisis.
In Sri Lanka, a state of emergency requires parliamentary approval within two weeks of proclamation, otherwise the measure must be rescinded. The declaration enables the deployment of security forces to maintain order and respond to what authorities describe as disturbances that threaten public safety and property.
The main opposition party, the United People’s Party, condemned the move, arguing that such powers risk being misused to suppress dissent and silence protesters.
Members of the governing coalition defended the emergency decree, insisting that certain demonstrators engaged in violence and damaged private property and state institutions, thereby justifying the enhanced security measures.
Protests against Rajapaksa intensified over months as the government struggled to address a severe economic crisis that left citizens facing shortages of essential goods such as gas, fuel, and medicines. The broader public pressures underscore the tension between calls for legal safeguards and demands for decisive action to restore stability and economic relief.