COLOMBO – The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka’s main parliamentary opposition, has issued a sharp call for intensified public protests and collective action to challenge the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. The party’s leadership has declared that the current legislative path for the amendment is insufficient and warns that it poses a significant threat to democratic governance and the long-term stability of the country.
Senior figures within the SJB emphasized during a press conference today that the party intends to mobilize both within the legislative chamber and on the streets to ensure that public sentiment regarding the reform is heard. The SJB leadership criticized the government’s approach to constitutional reform, labeling it a “half-hearted attempt” that fails to address the foundational issues that led to the island’s recent economic and political turmoil.
“The 22nd Amendment is not the systemic change the people demanded,” an SJB spokesperson stated. “Instead of limiting the vast powers currently concentrated in the executive, this version provides only cosmetic changes that effectively preserve the status quo. We are calling on the public, civil society organizations, and trade unions to join us in demanding a more robust and sincere commitment to democratic reform.”
The proposed 22nd Amendment, which is intended to succeed the 21st Amendment, has been a subject of intense debate in Parliament. While the government maintains that the amendment is a necessary step toward political stability and administrative efficiency, critics argue that the draft lacks the necessary teeth to curb presidential overreach. The SJB has specifically highlighted concerns regarding the appointment of key commissions and the continued influence of the executive branch over the judiciary and independent bodies.
The SJB’s call for “stronger protests” marks a pivot in their strategy, signaling a move away from purely parliamentary debate. By pushing for grassroots mobilization, the opposition aims to apply maximum pressure on the ruling coalition ahead of the upcoming parliamentary vote. The party has expressed concerns that if the amendment is passed in its current form, it will solidify the existing power structures, making future accountability efforts significantly more difficult.
As political tensions simmer in Colombo, analysts observe that the SJB’s aggressive stance reflects growing frustration within the opposition. With the country still reeling from the aftermath of the economic crisis, the battle over constitutional reforms has become a proxy for the larger struggle over the future direction of the state.
Security has been tightened around key government installations in anticipation of potential demonstrations. The SJB leadership has insisted that all planned protests remain peaceful, even as they urge their supporters to remain vigilant and organized. As the parliamentary session nears, the nation remains in a state of suspense, awaiting the final outcome of a reform process that has become the centerpiece of Sri Lanka’s polarized political landscape.
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