President’s term is five years – Supreme Court
Posted on January 15th, 2018
By Manushi Silva Courtesy Adaderana
Conveying its decision on the reference made by the President, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has said that President Maithripala Sirisena’s term in office is five years.
The Supreme Court has conveyed the opinion that the President’s term of office is five years, the PMD confirmed.
The Supreme Court arrived at this opinion after the President sought its opinion with regard to the term of office of the incumbent President.
On reference made by President Maithripala Sirisena, Chief Justice Priyasath Dep appointed a five-judge bench on January 10, to decide whether the President’s term is five or six years.
The Supreme Court held an open court hearing to decide whether the President’s term is five or six years on January 11.
Meanwhile the President’s Media Division, issuing a statement, said that two different views have been expressed in legal, civil and political circles about the duration of the term of Presidency after the enactment of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
In order to dispel this confusion, the President has sought the opinion of the Supreme Court regarding the actual term of office.”
According to the powers vested on the President under the Constitution, the President has the right to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court, it said, adding, that the former Presidents who held office had also sought the opinion of the Supreme Court during their tenures.
It is a significant feature in the constitutions of democratic governance.”
Chief Justice Priyasath Dep yesterday appointed a five-judge bench the reference application forwarded by the President seeking an opinion whether it is constitutional for him to serve for a period of six years in the office of President.
The matter was taken up before a Supreme Court five-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Eva Wanasundara, Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare, Justice Sisira de Abrew and Justice K.T. Chitrasiri.
President Maithripala Sirisena, in terms of Article 129 (1) of the Constitution, has referred to the Supreme Court the following question for consideration and for an opinion to be submitted to the President on or before January 14, 2018.
Whether, in terms of Provisions of the Constitution, I, as the person elected and succeeding to the office of President and having assumed such office in terms of Article 32(1) of the Constitution on January 9 2015, have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of six years from January 9 2015, the date on which the result of my election to the office of President was declared.”
January 15th, 2018 at 4:34 am
President’s term is five years – Supreme Court- give him one extra year is it big deal ??? even though I am so confident MS will call election in 5 years of his 1st team & will be elected again for second team (final) by Truth Mother Lankan .
January 15th, 2018 at 5:14 am
Five years also too much for a third class president like this. It’s shame to have some one like him as head of state. He is only a talker no action. Weda bari Tarzan.
January 15th, 2018 at 5:14 am
The question is from the India as Sirisena the Indian puppet is doing a great job in destroying the Sinhalese.
January 15th, 2018 at 6:14 am
This man Sirisena IS A SHAMELESS ILLETERATE INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE SOUGHT FOR SUCH A RULING FROM THE SC WHEN ITS CLEAR ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION ITS 5 yrs!!!
1)Since this man took over office of Presidency,shamelessly appointed Ranil as PM as he was Ranil who orchestrated the COUP TO DEFEAT MR and THE COL LIVING HAS GONE VERY HIGH THAT MANY POOR SRI LANKANS ARE STARVING.
2) He has destroyed Sri Lanka’s WEALTH BY SELLING MANY PROJECTS ORIGINATED AND COMPLETED BY THE GREAT FORMER PRESIDENT MR!!!
3) BOND SCAM IS ANOTHER BIGGEST ROBBERY,STILL NO ACTION BEING TAKEN AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AS SIRISENA WANTS TO SAVE HIS SAVIOUR,B’LAND RANIL,THE BIGGEST HORA!!!
January 15th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
jay-ran
This is shameless greed, after having tasted the Presidential Power. He has absolutely no idea of the Sri Lankan Constitution. Else, would he have implanted a FAKE Prime Minister, when there was a Prime Minister *DIMU* already in the seat. It is either his Ignorance of the Constitution, or his Damn Mean Spirit, (KUHAKA KAMA) or both, that came into play. Any act of Governance by the Prime Minister is seen as illegal. The Caravan rolls on.
January 15th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
Don’t have the time to real all above,glad that the high court have denied the President an extra year.
I hope the CJ Mr Dep was my class mate in Kotte CMS.He was one of the most intelligent persons I ever met in those times,hardly spoke and I hope it’s him.Going by my age he should be about 76 year old.I often wondered where he is now and if he is the Chief Justice then I am not surprised. Good luck to him.Hope he could remember the time we took part in the film Rekawa that was filmed in the beautiful setting of that collage’s back yard facing the Diyawannwa lake.