The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that it is clear that the term of office of the President is 05 years according to the current constitution.
Deputy Solicitor General Ms. Kanishka de Silva, who represented the Attorney General, gave this notice when the petition related to the President’s tenure was called today (08).
The Attorney General’s side has also informed the court that they will raise preliminary objections to dismiss the relevant petition.
These petitions will be considered today before a five-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Vijith Malalgoda, Murdu Fernando, Preethi Padman Surasena and S. Thureiraja.
Mr. CD Lenawa, an entrepreneur, filed a fundamental rights petition asking for an order to prevent the holding of the presidential election as currently being planned until an interpretation is given regarding the end date of the current president’s term of office.
The Election Commission, including its chairman, the attorney general, has been named as the respondents here.
The petitioner said that due to the amendments made regarding the term of office of the President through the 19th amendment of the Constitution, there has been an ambiguity regarding the dates of the end of that term.
However, 5 interlocutory petitions have been filed by seven parties, including Parliamentarian Ranjith Maddumabandara, General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balavegaya, asking for permission to present facts against this petition.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Election Commission has announced that the date of the presidential election will be announced after the 17th of this month.
