Leaders of the Democratic United Opposition, following a meeting with British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick this morning, voiced strong criticism of the Government’s handling of the proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges. 

Addressing the media, member of the group, Professor G.L. Peiris said the process lacked transparency, consultation, and respect for key stakeholders, including the Mahanayake Theros of Malwathu and Asgiri, who had written to the President but received no acknowledgment.

Peiris charged that even the Minister of Justice was unaware of the proposals, underscoring what he described as a “completely secret” process. 

He argued that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) had been invited to meet the President only after the Gazette was issued, Cabinet decisions taken, and the process advanced, calling it “eyewash.”

He warned that the amendment would not resolve case backlogs, as only 1% of cases lie before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, but would instead cause “immeasurable damage” to the judiciary’s independence and public trust.

The opposition leader further noted that extending judges’ tenure could trigger demands from other professional groups, citing nurses, police officers, university professors, and state officials, who may seek similar privileges under Article 12 of the Constitution. 

He contrasted the Government’s focus on judicial tenure with pressing national issues such as farmers’ struggles, prison deaths, shortages of essential medicines, and education challenges.

“Is this the country’s priority?” he asked, stressing that the judiciary, long held in “boundless respect” by the people, was being undermined.

Peiris confirmed that the opposition would petition the Supreme Court next week, arguing that the amendment fails to address delays in justice and risks eroding democratic governance. 

Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara, former Minister Dilan Perera, Premnath C. Dolawatte, and Upatissa Kumaratunga of the New People’s Front also participated in the meeting. (Newswire)

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Representatives of the Democratic United Opposition met with Marc‑Andre Franche, the UN Resident Coordinator, today (15) to brief him on what they described as critical issues facing Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Professor G.L. Peiris said the opposition had conveyed strong objections to the government’s proposed judicial reforms.

“No one in Sri Lanka has asked for these reforms. The legal community, civil society, magistrates, and parliamentarians are all opposed. Whose wish is this being carried out for?” he asked.

He criticized the lack of transparency, noting that the government had not issued any clear statement on the nature or purpose of the reforms. He contrasted this with the UK’s 2021 reform process, which involved public consultations and over 1,200 responses before decisions were finalized.

Peiris added that extending the tenure of judges without similar consideration for other professionals, such as specialist doctors, was discriminatory and violated Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

“Instead of solving the country’s pressing problems, the government is creating unnecessary complications,” he said.

Also speaking to reporters, former minister Suren Raghavan said the opposition had also raised concerns about the Negombo Prison riot, which left 33 people dead, including 10 officials. 

He noted that while a three‑member committee led by Justice Priyantha Jayawardena had been appointed, no interim report or official statement had been released even ten days after the incident.

Raghavan questioned the use of live ammunition instead of minimum force measures such as rubber bullets or tear gas. “International practice requires minimum force. Why was that not applied here?” he asked.

He criticized the government’s silence, saying it had offered only vague statements while public expectations remained high. He also pointed out that many ruling party MPs lacked grassroots political experience, raising doubts about their ability to respond effectively to cultural and social realities.

Referring to the deaths at Negombo Prison, Raghavan stressed the importance of protecting the right to life, a principle recognized internationally and by the UN Council.

“If even one innocent person is punished, it is far more dangerous than letting a thousand guilty go free,” he said.

Both Peiris and Raghavan emphasized that the public had expected a system change from the government, ensuring rule of law, economic stability, food security, transport facilities, and structured education. 

They rejected violent protests and strikes, insisting that democracy in the 21st century must be based on consultation, participation, and listening to the people.

Raghavan appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the government, stating, “Democracy today means consultation and participation. My request and pressure is for the leadership to adopt such a democratic framework for the good of the country.” (Newswire)

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Several opposition politicians on Monday called for an independent and transparent investigation into the Negombo Prison violence, demanding accountability from both political leaders and senior officials while warning of international repercussions over the incident.

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris described the incident as a grave violation of Sri Lankan and international law, saying it breached constitutional protections and several international human rights conventions to which Sri Lanka is a party.

Peiris questioned who ordered the deployment of prison intelligence officers from Colombo to Negombo after the situation had reportedly begun to stabilize and who authorised the use of live ammunition, noting that some victims had sustained gunshot injuries.

He said Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara should resign from the entire Justice Ministry after accepting responsibility for the incident, arguing that accepting responsibility without stepping down had no meaning.

Peiris also questioned why the Negombo Prison had reportedly operated for more than a year without a permanent Commissioner General of Prisons and accused senior ministry officials of failing to implement recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission regarding the appointment.

He further alleged that the government’s focus had shifted away from pressing issues such as prison management and public safety towards efforts to amend the Constitution to extend the retirement age of senior judges.

UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala also called for accountability, saying responsibility extended beyond the Justice Minister and that the government could not justify the deaths by citing prison overcrowding or dengue-related issues. She said authorities had failed to properly monitor prison conditions despite repeated warning signs.

Former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said the prison crisis had been aggravated by the increasing use of remand detention, claiming that bail was being opposed in a growing number of cases and that remanding suspects had effectively become a form of punishment. He argued that the sharp rise in the remand prison population had contributed significantly to overcrowding.

The opposition representatives said they intend to raise the Negombo Prison incident with foreign missions, international legal bodies and the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, arguing that the matter requires international attention while calling for the full facts behind the violence to be made public. (Newswire)

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