Oct 22, Colombo: The leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremasinghe says it is the judges and the lawyers who could safeguard the independence of the judiciary.

During a meeting in Colombo, Wickremasinghe has said that the legislators could only support the judiciary in its struggle to ensure independence.

Noting that the independence of the judiciary should be tied with the citizens of this country, Wickremasinghe has said that the country would be converted to a dictatorial rule if and when the independence is lost.

Wickremasinghe has attributed the breakdown in democracy in the country due to the weaknesses in the judiciary's independence.

According to the UNP Leader, the lawyers need to establish several societies to fight for the independence of the judiciary and people should also support such moves.