Sri Lanka Calls For a State of Emergency
Sri Lankan President declared a state of emergency in the country to control food prices and prevent hoarding amid shortages of some food staples.
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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka’s Parliament has approved a state of emergency after the President's call for a state of emergency, which came in favor of controlling food prices and preventing hoarding in light of food staples shortages.
Some opposing legislators argued on Monday that the emergency declaration is unnecessary in the presence of laws that can enforce the maintenance of essential supplies, out of their belief that tough emergency rules may be misused to stifle critics.
However, ruling party legislators said that the emergency was declared only because other options were not efficient.
Under the state of emergency, the law enables authorities to detain people without warrants, seize property, enter and search any premises, suspend laws, and issue orders that cannot be questioned in court.
It is worth noting that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had declared the state of emergency on August 30. For its approval, the constitution states that Parliament must approve it within a 14 day period.
The resolution received 132 votes in favor and 51 against.
