Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment faces criticism from the People’s Centre, which claims the proposals and North-East projects could advance federal rule.
The Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment is an attempt to move the country toward federal rule while distracting from other issues, the People’s Centre has alleged.
Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, the organisation’s Dharmasri Kariyawasam claimed development projects jointly implemented in the Northern and Eastern Provinces carried separatist objectives.
He specifically referred to the “North-East Integrated Development Program,” funded through a USD 100 million World Bank loan.
Kariyawasam alleged the programme was creating infrastructure needed for a separate state similar to what the LTTE had sought to establish.
He also pointed to proposals under the Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment to establish new Courts of Appeal at provincial level.
According to Kariyawasam, High Courts already perform those functions. Therefore, he argued that creating provincial Courts of Appeal would represent another step toward greater devolution of power.
He further claimed that issues such as extending the retirement age of judges were being highlighted to distract the public from what he described as the amendment’s wider objective.
Kariyawasam alleged that the ultimate aim was to divide the country and urged the public to remain highly vigilant.
He went further, describing the developments surrounding the Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment as potentially the most serious danger the country has faced in its history.
