evidence: In flagrant violation of the country’s constitution and basic democratic rights, Sri Lanka’s unelected president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has cancelled the island-wide local elections to be held March 9. [...] Wickremesinghe made no commitment—not that such a commitment would be worth a single cent—as to when, if ever, the elections will be held. On other occasions in recent days he has said there will be no elections until there is an "economic recovery" and that the "economic recovery"—that is, squeezing sufficient revenue surpluses from Sri Lanka’s impoverished workers and toilers to resume debt payments to international capital—is dependent on "public order."