National People’s Power (NPP) Executive Committee member Lal Wijenayake has confirmed that he will remain with the ruling party while maintaining his opposition to passing the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution without a public referendum.
Wijenayake stated that his stance on the constitutional amendment remains unchanged and emphasized his continued backing of measures taken by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to raise concerns regarding its broader implications. Wijenayake was among the individuals who filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the 22nd Constitutional Amendment, seeking a judicial ruling that mandates public approval through a referendum before the proposal can be enacted.
Addressing inquiries on whether he could maintain his position within the NPP while publicly opposing the amendment, Wijenayake disclosed that he discussed the matter directly with President and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Although he declined to reveal the specifics of their conversation, he indicated that his standing within the ruling party would remain intact and that he expects to continue serving on the NPP Executive Committee.
Key Developments
- Lal Wijenayake maintains his position against passing the 22nd Amendment without a referendum while remaining an active member of the NPP.
- He continues to support efforts by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to address concerns over the amendment’s impact.
- Wijenayake previously petitioned the Supreme Court to mandate a national referendum for the 22nd Constitutional Amendment.
- Following a discussion with President and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Wijenayake expects to retain his seat on the NPP Executive Committee.
Despite his persistent challenges to the proposed constitutional amendment, Wijenayake firmly ruled out joining any opposition-led protests against the government over the issue.