SJB plans a 22nd Amendment protest in Colombo on September 24 as Parliament debates the Bill, citing judicial independence and democracy.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will stage a 22nd Amendment protest in Colombo on September 24, calling for a large-scale peaceful public mobilization against the proposed constitutional change.
The demonstration will take place on the same day Parliament begins debating the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa announced the decision while addressing a special meeting of Colombo District local government representatives and electoral organizers. The meeting took place at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo.
Premadasa called on progressive citizens to join the peaceful demonstration. He said the campaign seeks to protect Sri Lanka’s democratic structure, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
22nd Amendment Protest Set for Parliamentary Debate Day
Parliament is scheduled to debate the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill on September 24 and 25. Against that backdrop, the SJB has deliberately scheduled its Colombo demonstration for the first day of the debate.
A record number of petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the proposed constitutional amendment.
The constitutional process has also drawn attention within domestic and international legal circles. In particular, concerns have focused on the independence of the judiciary and the balance of power.
Therefore, the opposition’s decision to take its campaign onto the streets while Parliament debates the Bill represents a significant escalation of its political response.
The SJB intends to express its opposition both through parliamentary and public channels. The party is positioning the demonstration as a peaceful democratic response rather than merely a political gathering.
Sajith Premadasa Warns Against Concentration of Power
Addressing the gathering, Premadasa focused heavily on the government’s two-thirds parliamentary majority.
He argued that the government should not use that majority to undermine the fundamental rights of citizens or weaken democratic values.
The Opposition Leader also highlighted what he described as the danger of concentrating power within a single political party.
Against that background, he said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya had already begun pursuing legal and democratic responses both inside and outside Parliament.
Premadasa presented the issue as something extending beyond ordinary party politics. He described the challenge surrounding the proposed amendment as an important moment for protecting the country’s constitutional framework and the interests of future generations.
The opposition expects the September 24 mobilization to draw greater public attention to the government’s conduct surrounding the proposed amendment.
The planned 22nd Amendment protest will therefore coincide directly with the constitutional debate inside Parliament, placing political and public pressure on the process at the same time.
Premadasa urged citizens who value democracy, judicial independence and the rule of law to participate peacefully.
The full statement containing the Opposition Leader’s comments can be viewed in the accompanying video. It provides further details about the planned Colombo protest and the arguments raised by the opposition concerning the proposed constitutional amendment.
