Appoint an Acting President immediately once President vacates office: BASL

News

By Yoshitha Perera

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today requested that the President should resign soon and urged the Parliament to take immediate steps to appoint an Acting President as per the Constitution.

During a special press conference, BASL President Saliya Peiris PC stated that the President and Prime Minister must follow the process of relinquishing their positions.

"According to the Constitution, the President must address to the Speaker a letter signed by him of his decision to stand down, and when the position becomes empty, the Prime Minister will act as acting President or the Speaker or a competent member of Parliament for the following thirty days," he stated.

Mr. Peiris added that the role of temporary President will only be for one month and that within that time the Parliament must choose a successor for the remainder of the tenure of the President who resigned.

Mr. Peiris went on to say that if the Prime Minister wishes to resign, he must notify the President in writing.

He also stated that the decision of the All Party Leaders meeting on Saturday (9) would be made public.

"In Sri Lankan history acting President was appointed one time. When President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated on May 1, 1993, D. B. Wijetunga was designated as Acting President, and within one week the Parliament chose the new President," he explained.

He went on to say that if the Parliament elects a new President among itself, the chosen Member of Parliament must receive more than half of the votes cast for the President's election.

If the Prime Minister is willing to resign, he must write to the President of decision to step down, Mr. Peiris added further.

"If each MP votes, the chosen MP must receive 113 votes. This country cannot afford to be unstable for an extended period of time; it will affect the economy as well. "The necessary authorities must act immediately to stabilize the country," he stated.

He also noted that to inform All Party Leaders meeting decision which was taken on Saturday (9) to the public.

Mr. Peiris also urged the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker to conduct the transition of power smoothly and expeditiously while upholding the rule of law, democracy, and national unity.

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