The 20th Amendment to the Constitution violates the sovereignty of the people and concentrates all powers on the President, weakening the powers of the judiciary and the legislature, petitioners told when petitions filed against the proposed bill were taken up for consideration for a second day on September 30, reports Colombo Page. Addressing a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, Attorney-at-Law Iraj de Silva, appearing for the United National party (UNP) Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, said “Articles from clause 3 to 57 of this Bill are completely unconstitutional. In this situation the sovereignty of the people is being violated. This Bill is completely contrary to the basic framework of the Constitution. The provisions of the Bill will consolidate the full powers of the President. The provisions of the Bill also upset the balance of the three main branches of law, accountability and governance. It also contradicts the principle of devolution. It is also a violation of the principle of public trust. Also, the power to govern will be transferred to a dual citizen through this amendment bill.” By the end of today, consideration of 32 out of 39 petitions has been completed.
Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) on September 30, decided to declare October 5 as a day of protest against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, reports Colombo Page. The General Secretary of SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara has told Lankadeepa that protests would be carried out in all districts on that day by hoisting black flags and wearing black bands. He also said that people from all constituencies in Sri Lanka will be brought to Colombo on the 8th and a massive protest campaign will be launched at Hyde Park against the 20th Amendment. Madduma Bandara further stated that all political parties, trade unions and civil society organizations that value democracy will get together to carry out the protest.