Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday vowed that an SJB government would repeal the 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution.Premadasa made the pledge while addressing thousands of SJB supporters who gathered near Parliament to protest against 22A.

Addressing the rally at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, Premadasa said the proposed constitutional amendment would undermine democracy and judicial independence and enable the concentration of political power in the Executive.

“Even if they pass it, under an SJB government we will scrap it,” Premadasa told the gathering, claiming that 22A was aimed at paving the way for a one-party state and placing the State under the control of a single political party.

Braving the rain, Premadasa said they had gathered there peacefully and had no intention of resorting to violence.

“We have gathered here to protect democracy,” he said, challenging the government to hold Provincial Council elections if it was confident of facing the people.

Premadasa said the SJB was prepared to work with any democratic and clean political force committed to the country’s progress and public welfare, amid ongoing discussions on cooperation among Opposition parties, including the United National Party.

Premadasa also accused groups aligned with the government of attempting to discourage people from attending the protest through statements and other measures.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the protest had been organised against the proposed amendment, which the party had opposed on the grounds that it could pave the way for authoritarianism.

The demonstration began around 9 a.m. at Polduwa Junction and coincided with Parliament taking up the proposed 22nd Amendment for debate. Proceedings on the Bill are scheduled to continue today (25).

The Supreme Court has determined that the proposed amendment does not require approval at a referendum and could be passed with a special majority in Parliament.

Meanwhile, traffic congestion was reported on roads surrounding Parliament and Polduwa Junction following the demonstration.

Security was also tightened in and around the Parliamentary complex, with a heavy police presence observed at Polduwa Junction and near the main entrance to Parliament.

Two retired female Navy petty officers were ordered to be remanded until October 5 over their alleged involvement in the abduction and disappearance of two women in Trincomalee during the war.

Trincomalee Chief Magistrate M.S.M. Samsudeen yesterday ordered that the two suspects be remanded and directed that they be produced for an identification parade on October 5.

The suspects, residents of Chilaw and Haputale, were arrested after appearing before the CID in connection with another court case. They were subsequently produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court.

The court was informed that the investigation concerned the alleged abduction of Sasikumar Thenmoli and Mary Delsia, residents of Paalaiyootru, Trincomalee, on or around May 13, 2008.

The CID told court that information uncovered during its investigations indicated that the two women had allegedly been detained at an underground location known as the “Gun Site” at the Trincomalee Naval Base while the two suspects were serving in the Navy. The women were subsequently reported missing.

Further investigations into the alleged abduction and disappearance of the two women are continuing.

The Frontline Socialist party through its People’s Struggle Alliance (Janatha Aragala Sandhanaya) yesterday accused the government of seeking to introduce a new anti-terror law containing provisions that could restrict fundamental rights and suppress dissent.

Speaking at a media briefing in Nugegoda yesterday (24), Janatha Aragala Sandhanaya National Executive Council member Duminda Nagamuwa said the government had gazetted the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, despite the NPP’s previous pledge to repeal repressive laws, including the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA).

Nagamuwa alleged that while the government claimed the new Bill was intended to replace the PTA, several provisions were more repressive than those contained in the existing legislation.

He said the proposed definition of terrorism was broad enough to potentially cover attempts to pressure the government or an international organisation to take or refrain from taking certain action.

“For example, if someone asks the government to reduce taxes, that could become a terrorist act. If we say or do something against the IMF, that could also become a terrorist act,” he alleged.

Nagamuwa also questioned the inclusion of offences relating to public property and protests within the proposed terrorism-related offences, arguing that such matters were already covered by existing laws.

He expressed concern over a provision that would empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to issue detention orders, saying such authority had previously been vested in the President.

He also alleged that Section 51 of the proposed Bill would enable the police to obtain orders restricting protests if they believed a demonstration could exceed prescribed limits.

“This would undermine the fundamental right to protest,” he said.

Nagamuwa further claimed that the proposed legislation would expand the powers of the police, military and Coast Guard to conduct searches and that Section 66 would treat such actions and prosecutions as having been carried out in good faith.

He also criticised a provision under which the Attorney General could, in certain circumstances, refer a person who admitted an offence for rehabilitation and release the person from the proceedings.

Another concern, he said, was the proposed power of the President to designate organisations as prohibited organisations. According to Nagamuwa, acts carried out in support of such organisations could subsequently be treated as terrorist acts.

He alleged that the government was abandoning its earlier commitments to dismantle repressive laws and was instead preparing legislation that could be used against dissent.

Nagamuwa alleged that the government was implementing an economic programme favouring the wealthy while increasing the tax and economic burden on the public, and claimed that repressive laws were being introduced to suppress opposition to that programme.

He called on the public to oppose the proposed legislation, saying the Bill should not even be presented to Parliament.