By Sri Lanka’s President’s Media Division released a document that suggests the President has the power to disregard the constitution.
A group of Sri Lankan citizens called the Friday Forum issued a statement challenging the President’s claim.
The group said that the President’s claim is misleading and that only the Supreme Court can interpret the constitution.
The group also said that the President cannot seek unquestioning loyalty from public officials and institutions.
The group called for the abolition of the executive presidency, saying it is a toxic model of governance that has damaged public institutions.
the group points out that there is a ” a growing trend towards authoritarian governance, disregarding the constitution and the democratic rights of the people.”
It mainly sies how the online safety bill was passed in parliament in a rushed manner and how the speaker made it the law of the land
The group also called for a referendum on the abolition of the executive presidency.
Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, Prof. Deepika Udagama, Prof. Camena Guneratne, Prof Gananath Obeyesekere, Prof. Ranjini Obeyesekere, Dr. Geedreck Usvatte-Aratchi, Prof Gameela Samarasinghe, Mr. Chandra Jayaratne, Dr. A.C. Visvalingam, Bishop Duleep de Chickera, Mr. Daneshan CasieChetty, Dr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. Priyantha Gamage, Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris, Mr. S.C.C. Elankovan, Pulasthi Hewamanna and Shanthi Dias
(The Friday Forum is an informal group of concerned citizens pledged to uphold norms of democracy, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, media freedom and tolerance in our pluralist society.)
