Opposition MPs accuse President of undermining judicial independence

Wednesday, 6 May 2026 02:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A group of Opposition lawmakers, led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, has raised serious concerns over remarks made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at a recent May Day rally, alleging that his comments could be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary.

In a joint statement yesterday, signed by 26 Opposition Members of Parliament, the legislators objected to the President’s call for supporters to “prepare to applaud” following a court verdict expected to be delivered on 25 of this month, arguing that such remarks create the impression that the executive may have prior knowledge of a judicial decision.

The Opposition MPs described the statement as a “serious threat” to the independence of the judiciary, and warned that it could erode public confidence in one of the country’s key democratic institutions.

“The President’s statement implies that he has prior knowledge of a judgment to be delivered by the judiciary. It is a fundamental principle of our constitutional system that justice should not only be done, but should be clearly and undoubtedly seen to be done,” the statement added.

The Opposition further stressed that the judiciary derives its authority from the Constitution and the people, not from the executive branch or any political leadership. They said any attempt, directly or indirectly, to influence or appear to influence judicial proceedings would be inconsistent with democratic governance and the rule of law.

The MPs also noted that the judiciary remains one of the few public institutions that continues to command broad public trust and respect, warning that politically charged statements targeting court proceedings risk damaging that credibility.

Calling for immediate corrective action, the Opposition urged the Government to refrain from making statements concerning judicial matters and called on the President to withdraw his remarks.

Among the signatories were Sajith Premadasa, Dilith Jayaweera, Rauff Hakeem, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Gayantha Karunatilaka, S.M. Marikkar, Ajith P. Perera and several other Opposition lawmakers.