President Ranil Wickremesinghe is working to clarify the term of office for the President, aiming to make it five years. This move comes after repeated petitions to the Supreme Court regarding whether the term should be six years or five, Legal expert and Senior Lecturer at University of Colombo- Faculty of Law. Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa yesterday told the Sunday Observer.
The Presidential election will be gazetted anytime now, said Mahanamahewa. “Even if a referendum be held on the subject of the President’s term – be it five or six years, it will not affect scheduling of the Presidential election,”” he said.
He emphasized that there is no need to worry about the July 18, 2024, gazette notification, issued under the President’s orders, which aims to amend Article 83(b) of the Constitution. This amendment involves changing the term length from “over six years” to “over five years.”
Nobody is against reducing the President’s term to five, he pointed out.
While the proposed bill has no implication on the Presidential election, the Election Commission may remain strong as ever if they must hold a very unlikely referendum over it, as this requires two third majority in Parliament and referendum at the same time, he said.
The only problem with the proposed bill is that it has been brought to light at this time. That is why some have expressed suspicions and fears about it. But there is no reason to have any fears about it, said Mahanamahewa.
Asked if this could lead to a situation where two elections can happen in close proximity in one way or the other, Mahanamahewa said if this was the case a referendum may be conducted independently of the Presidential Election. Neither will affect the other, he said.
