Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says that while other political parties have exerted various pressures on the judiciary at different times, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is the only untainted political party that has made no such interference.
Addressing a public meeting in Galle yesterday (10), he warned that the National people's Power (NPP) government is engaging in an undemocratic act by extending the retirement age of judges.
He emphasised that the government intends to pave the way for a single party rule through these statutory amendments.
Highlighting past instances of judicial interference, the Opposition Leader noted that a previous political faction took measures to impeach and remove former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake from her office.
He also recalled how another political faction had previously threatened members of the judiciary, declaring that judges would be summoned before a Parliamentary Select Committee over decisions made regarding local government elections.
The Opposition leader stressed that while other political parties have repeatedly exerted pressure on the courts at different times, the SJB stands out as the only untainted political party in the country that has never compromised judicial independence.
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