President extends emergency

• Emergency extended despite earlier assurances by President Sirisena to let it lapse

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday issued an Extraordinary Gazette extending the State of Emergency by another month. 

In the Gazette, the President said he was of the opinion that it is expedient to extend the State of Emergency in the interest of the public security, the preservation of public order and maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.

President Sirisena in May assured a group of diplomats that he would let Emergency lapse in June. The State of Emergency was imposed after the Easter Sunday attacks to assist in restoring national security and apprehending suspects. 

In May the President also called on countries to lift their travel advisories on Sri Lanka. However, State of Emergency affects the continuance and level of the travel advisories imposed by foreign countries.