Sajith challenges President over 22A referendum

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has challenged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament regarding public statements that the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment can be enacted with a simple two-thirds majority ahead of the Supreme Court's official ruling. Premadasa stressed that while the President had earlier maintained that the 20th Amendment called for a public referendum, he is currently asserting that no referendum is needed for the 22nd Amendment, thereby anticipating the judiciary's verdict on its constitutional validity.

Addressing concerns over international legal obligations, Premadasa censured the government for dismissing alerts issued by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. He emphasized that the body had raised alarms about the draft law threatening democratic norms and judicial autonomy, arguing that it breaches the Latimer House Principles governing the division of power between the executive, legislature, and judiciary. Highlighting additional pushback from domestic legal circles, including a resolution by the Galle Bar Association opposing the measure, he urged the Justice Minister to apologize to the Commonwealth Lawyers Association after officials allegedly turned away its president.

Moving to wider state affairs, the Opposition Leader charged the administration with eroding economic stability and democratic frameworks, referencing draft plans for a chartered media professionals body as a direct attempt to curb press freedom. Premadasa pledged that the Opposition would counter any moves to utilize a two-thirds majority to choke the press, demanding an immediate withdrawal of all proposals designed to restrict media liberties.