SJB to oppose removal of 19th constitutional amendment

COLOMBO (News1st): The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has stressed it would oppose moves to remove the 19th constitutional amendment in Parliament. "The 19th amendment established certain organizations for better governance in the country," party leader Sajith Premadasa said on Saturday. His remarks came as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna that won the poll has vowed it would introduce a new constitution in the country. "Amending the 19th amendment to the constitution is one thing, but changing the constitution is something completely different," Premadasa told reporters. The SJB which was formed by a breakway group of the United National Party (UNP) won 54 seats in the 225-seat legislature. The UNP which held 106 seats in Parliament in the previous parliament lost all seats but one at this year's election. "If they (the UNP) had refrained from backstabbing and obstructing, in my view, they could have performed better," the SJB leader said. He called on all candidates willing to contest the provincial council elections to join his party. "We are ready to face the challenges in the provincial levels," Premadasa noted.