Claiming that the Government that ruled the country during the past five years has caused an unprecedented social, economic and political decline, the Samagi Intellectuals Forum, a group affiliated with the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), claimed that the present Government’s denial of the Judiciary’s authority poses a severe challenge to the rule of law.

The forum’s member, Dr. Mahim Mendis, told the media yesterday (5) that such a challenge to the Judiciary would exacerbate the country’s downfall, and make it difficult for the country to regain its reputation which he said has been tarnished at the international level.

“The Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Government Parliamentarian, former President and attorney Mahinda Rajapaksa is mocking and underestimating the Judiciary and the rule of law,” he opined, adding that right-wing political ideologies are not suitable for the country.

During the press briefing, the members of the forum alleged that while the revival of the economy is facing such challenges at present, the Government’s claims that the country’s economic situation has improved in the recent past is questionable because the public is yet to benefit from the economic improvement that the Government claims to have achieved. They said that on the contrary, the country’s economic situation has worsened during the past few years, and that the people should see this truth. 

They claimed that the Government’s arbitrary decisions, such as not respecting the rule of law, have had an adverse impact on the country’s ability to recover.