{
  "id": 10096494,
  "title": "Sajith likens 22A to ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/sajith-likens-22a-to-emperors-new-clothes",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T00:04:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/sajith-likens-22a-to-emperors-new-clothes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa likened the Government's defense of the proposed 22nd Amendment to the tale of \"The Emperor's New Clothes\". During a parliamentary debate, Premadasa argued that the amendment would infringe upon judicial independence, democracy, and the separation of powers. He claimed the government portrayed the constitutional amendment as a move to safeguard democracy, but contended it would in fact bolster executive control over the judiciary. Premadasa contended the amendment would undermine public trust in judges and transform the judiciary into a \"tool and puppet\" of the executive. He reminisced on the constitutional changes brought by the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Amendments, highlighting how executive powers had been successively curtailed and restored under various administrations. Premadasa also criticized politicians who backed these amendments while still securing electoral support. He referenced the impeachment of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, accusing those who supported her removal of later endorsing judicial independence. He also referred to a court order on local government elections, pointing out some politicians who defended judicial independence later sought to summon the judges who issued the order before a Parliamentary Select Committee. Premadasa questioned the government's proposal to raise the retirement age of senior judges, noting that no comprehensive study was conducted to justify the measure. He pointed to a 2023 Asian Development Bank study, arguing that extending judges' retirement age was not deemed a solution to judiciary issues. Premadasa also queried the government's stance that a referendum for the 22nd Amendment was unnecessary, recalling President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's support for a referendum during the 20th Amendment process. He stressed that the Supreme Court ruled the 22nd Amendment Bill doesn't need a referendum per Article 83 of the Constitution, though certain textual modifications are required. Premadasa also accused the government of straying from its manifesto to eliminate the executive presidency, alleging it sought to amplify executive influence over state bodies. He urged the government to retract the bill, alleging it would weaken checks and balances and steer the nation towards one-party rule.",
  "summary": "Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday likened the Government’s justification of the proposed 22nd Amendment to Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, claiming that the amendment would undermine judicial independence, democracy and the separation of powers. Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the 22nd Amendment, Premadasa said the Government portrayed the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Sajith Premadasa's criticism of the 22nd Amendment implies that the government's moves may be undermining judicial independence and democracy, contradicting its stated goals and potentially consolidating executive power.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}