The leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Udaya Gammanpila has filed a petition with Sri Lanka's Supreme court to challenge the draft bill of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, presented previously by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Gammanpila claims the proposed Amendment, tabled in parliament this week, is a violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka's Speaker informed parliament last year that the proposed 20th Amendment would need a two third majority in parliament before being put before the public via a referendum in order to be implemented following a Supreme Court ruling. 

Discussions on the amendment have been stalled for months follow fierce opposition from a variety of groups for differing reasons. 

Sri Lanka's senior Buddhist clergy, the Maha Sangha, in May urged the president and prime minister not to push through with the proposed 20th amendment to the constitution which would abolish the executive presidency, arguing it was a move to divide the country. 

The Tamil National Alliance said it would only support it if a resolution to the ethnic conflict is also proposed.

TNA spokesperson MA Sumanthiran was quoted by The Island as saying, "we support the abolishing of the executive presidency. This system was introduced in 1978 and ever since it has lead to a lot of problems. In 2015, President Sirisena promised to scrap the post."

"Just like this the ethnic problem has created issues in Sri Lanka. A lot of people have died because of this. So equal attention should be paid to solving this as well."