President may not know true motive behind 22nd Amendment, alleges Namal

Members of the ruling party are unable to provide a clear explanation for the proposed 22nd Amendment, particularly the move to extend the retirement age of judges, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa claimed.

Extending the retirement age would not resolve the backlog of cases in the courts, Rajapaksa said while speaking to the media during a visit to the Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya.

Existing vacancies must be filled and new courts must be established if the country wants to expedite the hearing of cases pending in the courts, as everyone knows that extending the age of judges will not solve that, he said.

He questioned why the government sought to extend the tenure of judges without addressing those issues, adding that he was unsure whether even the President was aware of the reason behind the proposed amendment.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth Bar Association, the Asian Bar Association, lower court judges, professionals, and a majority of the public expressed concerns that the proposed changes could affect the independence of the judiciary, Rajapaksa also claimed.

Turning to law and order, he accused the government of using the police as a political arm, claiming that police investigations were conducted swiftly when statements were made by opposition politicians while insufficient action was taken against organised crime and other security threats.

He also criticised the government over recent incidents involving shootings and attacks on houses, saying the authorities should focus on ensuring public security.

An investigation into conditions in the country's prisons is necessary, Rajapaksa further stated, while questioning the Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs over prison inspections, infrastructure, and expenditure.

He questioned how many prisons the Minister inspected since assuming office and how much of the budget allocated for prison infrastructure, inmates, and prison officers was actually spent.

There is no point in accusing the Opposition without answering these questions, he said, adding that the government should explain how it addressed problems within the prison system.

The government adopted a policy of repression against political opponents, journalists, farmers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and graduates, Rajapaksa also accused.

People raising concerns over professional, economic, or social issues were being labelled or suppressed instead of having their grievances addressed, he alleged.

Despite this, the Opposition will continue to speak out on behalf of the public, he said.

The people of this country will not be silenced, no matter how much the authorities try to suppress the Opposition and public opinion, Rajapaksa said.