SC seeks Bar Association opinion on Presidential third term

The Supreme Court has referred two questions to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to get its consideration and for an opinion in order to elucidate whether President Mahinda Rajapaksa have any impediment to be elected for as further term.

In a letter addressed to the Bar Association, the Chief Registrar of the SC has requested that the membership of the BASL be informed that written submissions with regard to the mentioned questions will be entertained at the registry of SC until 3 p.m. of the 7 November.

Questions submitted to the SC by President:

(a) Whether he, in terms of article 31 (3A) (a) (1) of the Constitution, as amended in the 18th Amendment, I, as the incumbent President, serving my second term as President, have any impediment, after the expiration of four years from the date of commencement of his second term of office as President on 19th of November 2010, to declare by Proclamation his intention of appealing to the people for a mandate to hold office as President by election, for a further term, and

(b) Whether in terms of the provisions of the constitution, as amended by the 18th Amendment, I, as the incumbent President, serving my second term as President of office as President, and was functioning as such on the date 18th Amendment was enacted, has any impediment to be elected for a further term of office.