The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa has questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on why a referendum is not required for the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, when he himself had previously called for one over the 20th Amendment.

Opposition Leader Premadasa raised the issue while addressing a gathering in Rattota, Matale.

He said that when the then government introduced the 20th Amendment, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was serving in the opposition at the time, had demanded a referendum in addition to the two-thirds majority required in Parliament.

However, Premadasa said government representatives are now claiming that a referendum is unnecessary for the proposed 22nd Amendment.

He questioned the President on the reason for the change in position and why the same standard applied to the 20th Amendment is not being applied to the proposed constitutional amendment.

Premadasa also alleged that the proposed amendment could undermine the independence of the judiciary and further weaken the rule of law.

He said the rule of law is already under pressure due to the daily reports of shootings in the country and warned that the proposed amendment could further erode it.