"We will not allow the precious freedoms that we have fought hard to secure to be stolen from us," ousted Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said, issuing a special statement this evening.

Wickremesinghe said, his party, the UNP, would form a broad alliance to protect freedom and democracy in the country. 

"I promise you that we who value our democracy will work together to save our nation from this unprecedented crisis Today, our country finds itself in an extremely unfortunate and critical situation. We must decide now whether we stand for the protection of democracy, the protection of the supreme law of the land, and the defence of justice," he said. 

The UNP leader said no one raised the issue of possible violence in Parliament when the party leaders met Speaker Karu Jayasuriya last week to discuss the possibility of reconvening the House. 

Wickremesinghe said it was the duty of the Speaker to take measures to ensure the safety of lawmakers, adding that the President had acted arbitrarily and unconstitutionally. 

"As a result of his irresponsible action, we now find ourselves in a deep political crisis," he added.

Wickremesinghe said he acted with great patience and restraint over the past three and a half years, as he had to respect the "mandate" given by the people.

"I had to deal with various insults, humiliations and mud-slinging but I never responded to them.  It was due to this patience and restraint that the unity government survived thus far," he added.