We will defeat the government’s authoritarian fury through popular power, Sajith Premadasa says

Sajith Premadasa has warned that the opposition will take the government’s 22nd constitutional amendment to the streets, promising to defeat what he called its “authoritarian fury” through popular power.

Speaking in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s opposition leader said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya would mobilize against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the proposed amendment. He said the opposition would campaign to defeat both the amendment and what he described as the president’s authoritarian agenda, while protecting the judiciary.

Premadasa made the comments at a protest held outside Fort railway station under the slogan “Hands Off the Judiciary.” His remarks centered on the opposition’s claim that the 22nd Amendment reflects an attempt by the government to weaken judicial independence.

He also presented his party as a consistent defender of the courts. Premadasa said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya had opposed actions ranging from the controversy involving former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake to the previous government’s efforts to bring judges before a privileges committee. He added that those who voted for the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st amendments are not members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

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We will defeat the government’s authoritarian fury reflected in the 22nd Amendment through popular power.