A five-member bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Maithripala Sirisena’s term is limited to five years from the date of assuming office.
Chief Justice Priyasad Depp
The ruling followed a reference submitted to the Supreme Court by the President last week seeking opinion whether or not he could serve for six years.
The bench comprised of Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Eva Wanasundare, Buvaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew and K. Chitrasiri is reported to have communicated its opinion to the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.
Earlier, Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya claimed that since Sirisena was elected on January 8, 2015 for a period of six years, any change of term would be ‘an alienation of the sovereignty of the people.’
Commenting on the 19th Amendment, which limited the presidential term to five years, Jayasuriya offered the following argument to the Supreme Court:
“There is no provisions in the 19th Amendment to operate same with retrospective effect. Constitutions cannot be amended with retrospective effect.”
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Lanki / January 16, 2018
Attorney General has proved beyond any doubt that he is an inefficient person. See all the Mega Deal files that are on his table gathering dust. What has he done for the past 3 years, which Mega Rogue did he put in jail? Its time the President either asks him to resign or impeach him. We need a young, energetic, honest, hardworking and a person who does not take orders from Politicians as Attorney General. May be JVP should start a protest on the streets requesting a change in AG.
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WMFernando / January 20, 2018
President wanted the term to be 4 years. But it was 5 years due to pressure of others. It is decided by SC the term is 5 years. Therefore it is not an indication of independence of jeudiciary as depicted by some since AG was for five years and Sc decided as indicated by president’s wish.
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