SJB unanimously decides to oppose 20A

• Decision made at Parliamentary Group meeting 
• Party to look at drumming up public support for cause

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentary Group yesterday unanimously voted to defeat the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution. 

According to the SJB, the decision was made at the Parliamentary Group meeting held at Parliament, chaired by Party and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. 

Issuing a press release, the SJB said that the group decided to “oppose the 20th Amendment and to unconditionally work towards defeating it in Parliament.” SJB Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana had proposed the resolution, which was seconded by Parliamentarian Ashoka Abeysinghe. 

SJB Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva took to Twitter, stating that the party will rally the public against the 20th Amendment. He also stated that the Parliamentary Group had decided to “oppose” the 20th amendment, contrary to the press release by the SJB which stated that they plan to defeat it. 

“What we agreed unanimously was to OPPOSE the 20th Amendment. But the alert I got says “The Parliamentary Group of SJB has unanimously agreed to DEFEAT the draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution.” Happoi [grimace emoji]” he tweeted, adding, “Of course we will rally the

people against the 20th Amendment to the #SriLanka constitution. We will do our absolute best to defeat the Bill.”

Last week, the SJB stated that they will take their concerns about the proposed 20th Amendment to the Supreme Court. SJB sources told the Daily FT that the party plans to rally like-minded political forces and launch a series of public protests against the controversial 20th Amendment Bill in the coming days. (AF)