Sri Lanka's opposition expresses concern over alleged interference in judiciary by the executive

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says the onslaught on the country's democratic establishments by the incumbent regime warrants attention and unreserved condemnation by all. UNP parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya has expressed concern over the alleged interference in the judiciary by the executive. Issuing a statement, he has said that the executive, legislature and judiciary are the cornerstones of a vibrant democracy, underscored by an active civil society, a free media and an informed and astute citizenry.
He has noted that the onslaught on the country's democratic establishments and rule of law institutions by the incumbent regime warrants attention and unreserved condemnation by all those who aspire to higher democratic standards. "It is with grave concern, therefore, that we note recent developments regarding alleged interference by the executive on the affairs of the judiciary and the appalling intimidation and smear campaigns carried out by the regime's propaganda outfits: the state media. We condemn these attempts to cast aspersions on the highest officers of the Sri Lankan judiciary as blatant attempts to irreversibly harm the fragile threads that hold together the once-vibrant democratic tapestry of our country," Jayasuriya has said. "All these, except the executive, and of that too, only a minority of the privileged, is being rendered redundant. Whilst the executive of the country is on a perpetual drive to further its powers, the other arms which are to serve as the foundations are being - expediently - rendered redundant with the same conviction," he has added. -->