LANKA UNLIKELY TO EXTEND STATE OF EMERGENCY

Colombo, March 13: The Sri Lankan government is unlikely to extend the 10-day nationwide state of emergency imposed after communal riots erupted in Kandy district, as no fresh incidents of violence has been reported from anywhere in the country, the new Law and Order Minister has said.

Also, the government said that the restriction on the use of social media, including the Facebook would lifted by Friday.

Ranjith Maddumabandara said he thinks it was not necessary to continue the state of emergency any further.

“I had a discussion with the inspector general of police and senior police officers this morning to assess the current security situation in the country. We are of the view that the country’s security situation is normal right now and therefore, the extending of the ‘state of emergency’ which will expire on Thursday (March 15) will not be necessary,” Mr Maddumabandara was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

He also said he discussed the possibility of lifting the temporary ban on social media.

The government had restricted the use of social media, including Facebook, and social messaging app, Whatsapp.

The country’s security situation is normal right now and therefore, the extending of the 'emergency' won’t be necessary

— RANJITH MADDUMABANDARA Sri Lankan minister