Sri Lanka, Sept. 2 -- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution poses a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary and undermines the rule of law. He accused the government of destroying democracy despite securing its mandate to protect it.

He made the remarks speaking to the media after attending the hearing of petitions against the amendment at the Supreme Court yesterday (1). The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, as a petitioner, would challenge the amendment in the Supreme Court alongside several other parties through judicial proceedings, he said.

Premadasa said the amendment damages judicial independence by every measure of global procedural convention, adding that bodies including the Commonwea...