Opposition submits motion seeking debate on alleged Executive interference in Judiciary

Thursday, 7 May 2026 06:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A group of Opposition parliamentarians yesterday submitted a motion to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne seeking a Parliamentary debate on what they described as Executive encroachments on the Judiciary.

The motion, prepared on the instructions of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, was handed over to the Speaker by Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka together with Deputy Opposition Whips J.C. Alawathuwala and Ajith P. Perera and several other Opposition MPs. On Tuesday, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) expressed concern over remarks made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at last week’s May Day rally, warning that the comments could undermine public confidence in the Judiciary.

The BASL said it was a “grave concern” that the President had referred to a judicial decision due to be delivered on 25 May and suggested that the public would be able to applaud the outcome once delivered.

According to the BASL, the tenor of the statement was open to the suggestion of interference with the judicial process and risked eroding public confidence in the independence of the Judiciary. The Association also said it would continue to oppose any threats to judicial independence and take all necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of the Judiciary and the Constitution.