The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that, according to the current constitution, the President’s term of office is five years. Deputy Solicitor General Mrs. Kanishka De Silva, representing the Attorney General, made this statement when the petition regarding the President’s tenure was called today (08). She also mentioned that preliminary objections would be raised to seek the dismissal of the petition.
Until an interpretation is provided regarding the end date of the current President’s term, the Supreme Court has been convened to consider the fundamental rights petition requesting an order to prevent the planned presidential election. This petition is being considered by a five-member Supreme Court bench, including Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Vijith Malalgoda, Murdu Fernando, Prithi Padman Surasena, and S. Thurairaja. According to our court reporter, lawyers have already begun presenting their arguments.
Prominent businessman C.D. Lenawa filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition seeking an interim order to delay the announcement of the presidential election. Lenawa’s petition aims to postpone the election call until the Supreme Court clarifies the official polling date, which could alter the nation’s political timeline.
Meanwhile, the President’s Media Division (PMD) issued a statement noting that “It has come to the Government’s attention that Chamindra Dayan Lenawa has filed an application in the Supreme Court under Articles 126, read with Articles 12(1), 82(6), 3, 4, 118, and 125 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The application prays, inter alia, for a declaration that Article 30(2) should not be interpreted as amended ab initio by Section 3 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Accordingly, the Election Commission shall hold the next presidential election, considering that the President’s term of office is six years, and an interim order restraining the Election Commission members from taking further steps in conducting a Presidential Election in 2024 until the Supreme Court determines this application.”
