Ranil Wickremesinghe, delivering a special statement after taking oaths as the acting President on Friday said that he would not allow any action that is in violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the acting President before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya on Friday morning, after former Head of State Gotabaya Rajapaksa officially stepped down from July 14, giving into the months-long public agitations. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation was officially announced by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana at a special media briefing on Friday.
Acting President Wickremesinghe called on all parties to unite and work together for the betterment of the country.
The security provided to the Members of Parliament will be beefed up due to the reports on attempts being made to mount pressure on them with regard to the election of a new Head of State, he added.
A Member of Parliament will be elected at a vote scheduled for July 20 and nominations for the Presidency are slated to be accepted on the day before.
Wickremesinghe also pledged to abolish the official flag of the President, saying that the country needs only one flag. The reference term used for the Head of State, “His Excellency” will not be used anymore, he added.