SC fuller Bench to hear President’s reference

November 16, 2024

political Current Affairs

SC fuller Bench to hear President’s reference

January 11, 2018

Chief Justice Priyasath Dep has nominated a fuller Bench comprising five judges of the Supreme Court to hear the reference application forwarded by President Maithripala Sirisena seeking an opinion whether it is constitutional for him to serve for a period of six years in the office of President.

The matter is to be 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 at 11.00 a.m. today.

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”

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Front Chairperson Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera yesterday sought Supreme Court’s permission to intervene into President Maithripala Sirisena’s reference in SC about the presidential term of office.

Filing an intervenient petition in the Supreme Court regarding President Maithripala Sirisena’s reference about the presidential term, the thera said the President has no impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of six years which ends on January 9, 2021.

Ven. Sumangala Thera stated that on January 9, 2015 President Maithripala Sirisena was sworn in as the sixth Executive President of Sri Lanka and in terms the Constitution, the sovereignty is in the people and is inalienable. Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise. The franchise shall be exercisable at the election of the President of the Republic by every citizen.

Ven. Sumangala Thera further states that during the last presidential election, the citizens of the country exercised their franchise for the election of a President for a term of six years. He states that therefore, it is his contention that in terms of Provisions of the Constitution, the President, has no impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of six years which ends on January 9, 2021.