Supreme Court bench appointed to determine if President can stay on for six years

A five judge bench consisting of Supreme Court Judges has been appointed by the Chief Justice to determine President Maithripala Sirisena's request for an opinion on whether he can stay in office as President for six years – till 2021. The bench will take up the matter in an open court tomorrow.

The Bench consisting of Chief Justice Priyasad Dep, Supreme Court Judges Eva Vanasundara, Buwaneka Aluvihare, K. T. Chithrasiri and Sisira de Abrew. 

Earlier, in his communication to the Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, President Sirisena has asked;

“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 09th January 2015, have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of 6 years from 09th January 2015, the date on which the result of my election to the office of President was declared”.

President Sirisena has asked for a response to be submitted to him on or before January 14, 2018. Registrar of the Supreme Court M M Jayasekera has notified the President and Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to their membership that the matter will be listed on Thursday (January 11) at 11am in the Supreme Court.