Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a state of emergency with effect from midnight today (May 6) says President’s Media Division. This is the second time this year that President declared state of emergency. Earlier on April 1st, Sri Lanka declared a public Emergency and later withdrawn on April 5th.
In the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community are the reason for public emergency.
Today, over 1000 unions and trade unions in many sectors including the health, transportation, train, power, and education to launched a massive nationwide Hartal strike campaign against the government.
What is a ‘State of Emergency’ / Public Emergency?
The Public Security Ordinance (PSO) describes an emergency as a clear situation of exceptional threat, danger or disaster where the government can be given powers not permitted during normal times to deal with the threat. A situation like this allows the President to proclaim a state of emergency in order to ensure national security, public order and maintain essential services.
