Free Lawyers Organisation criticises government’s lawmaking

When drafting a law, a practice should exist to consult all relevant parties and act optimally, but all practices functioning in Sri Lanka during lawmaking are being pushed aside to turn into a purely authoritarian and arrogant lawmaking practice, Free Lawyers Organisation's Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon stated.

He stated this while participating in the Joint Opposition media briefing held at Flower Road, Colombo 7.

Expressing further views, he stated:

'When drafting a law, a practice should exist to consult all relevant parties and act optimally. But, during lawmaking, all practices functioning in Sri Lanka are pushed aside, turning into a purely authoritarian and arrogant 'lawmaking practice'.

The government took this authoritarian and arrogant approach because the country's economy goes to ruin day by day and impacts the people's economy.

Inflation, which stood at 1.6% in February 2026, increased by 5.7% to 7.3% by July. In the first six months of the year, the trade deficit expanded to USD 5.5 billion.

At the end of May, the budget surplus stood at Rs 197.3 billion. By the end of June 2026, the budget surplus decreased to Rs 9.5 billion.

Foreign reserves, which stood at USD 6,531 million in March 2025, dropped to USD 6,519 million by late July 2026. Central government outstanding debt, which stood at Rs 28,240.22 billion in November 2024, increased by Rs 1,952.96 billion to Rs 30,193.18 billion by March 2026.

The government brought three new laws to Parliament this week. All three laws, namely the 22nd Constitutional Amendment, Judicature Act, and Anti-Corruption Act Amendment, were not discussed in any committee in Parliament.

The government side held no discussion or seminar. No discussion took place with educated, intelligent groups possessing expert knowledge on these subjects. No discussion took place with civil society organisations.

This practice represents a purely authoritarian and arrogant action. They do whatever comes to mind. They enact whatever laws come to mind. Thinking these can pass because a two-thirds majority exists, a purely wild authoritarian path unfolds.

Today, the institution holding the country's legislative power, namely Parliament, fell once again into the executive president's double pocket. Putting the judiciary into the double-pocket shirt's other pocket represents what happens here.

Putting the judiciary into the pocket happens through the 22nd Constitutional Amendment, Judicature Act, and Anti-Corruption Act Amendment.''