Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has warned that the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution poses a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary and undermines the rule of law.
Speaking to the media yesterday (1) after attending the Supreme Court hearing of petitions challenging the amendment, Premadasa accused the government of undermining democracy despite receiving a mandate to protect and strengthen it.
He said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), as a petitioner, would challenge the proposed amendment before the Supreme Court through judicial proceedings, alongside several other parties.
Opposition leader further claimed that the amendment would undermine judicial independence by accepted international procedural standards. He added that organisations including the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and several other legal bodies had raised concerns that the proposed changes could seriously weaken the standing and independence of the judiciary.
