UNP trimmed down President's term to five years: SLFP

25 January 2019 12:11 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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SLFP parliamentarian Shanta Bandara yesterday alleged the UNP 'fraudulently' introduced a clause to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to limit the term of office of current President Maithripala Sirisena to five years, although he was elected to serve six years.

He said that they realised this only after the Supreme Court ruled that the term of office of the incumbent President ends in five years.

Mr. Bandara, who is also the politburo member of the SLFP and the head of the SLFP youth league, said all eyes were opened when the Supreme Court ruled in mid January, 2018 that President Sirisena’s term of office would be five years and not six years as earlier believed. President Sirisena sought the apex court’s opinion on the duration of his term of office and added the SLFP was of the view that the five year term applies prospectively and not retrospectively affecting the Presidents elected after the first term of President Sirisena.

Mr. Bandara said the SLFP has every right to oppose the proposed draft of the new Constitution because the party could not trust and accept whatever was contained in the document.

Addressing the media at the party office yesterday, Mr. Bandara said the entire SLFP was shocked and felt cheated after they learned about the Supreme Court verdict.

“President Sirisena was elected to a term of six years on January 8, 2015. The 6.2 million people voted for him with the belief that he would be the Executive President for the next six years under the provisions of the Constitution. But the UNP in the guise of clipping executive powers of the executive has secretly inserted a clause to the 19th Amendment to bring the term of office of President Sirisena to five from six years without our knowledge,” he charged.

“At the committee stage in Parliament on the night of April, 28, 2015, the UNP was explaining to all of us the pros and cons of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. They did not utter a word at any stage about the cutting of the term of office of the President by one year. We feel cheated and hoodwinked and added the UNP had done this deliberately to weaken President Sirisena,” Mr. Bandara lamented. (Sandun Jayasekara)

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Comments - 19

Ami Friday, 25 January 2019 06:08 AM

"Lamented" Hahahahaha

Server Friday, 25 January 2019 07:54 AM

UNP - Thank you for what you did !!!

Hapaurachchi Friday, 25 January 2019 06:33 AM

Its shows the intelligence and knowledge of you guys.

Viktor Friday, 25 January 2019 07:13 AM

The 6.2 million people voted for him with the belief that he would end the Executive Presidency !

Sanath Friday, 25 January 2019 07:21 AM

Thoththa Baba!!Couldn't this chap read and understand the draft...if not he should not be elected to parliament!! You don't have to be spoon fed. We don't need imbeciles as legislators.Besides it was not only the period of office of the President but also the term of the parliament was reduced to 5 years from the 6 years which existed.

Sambo Friday, 25 January 2019 07:29 AM

Thank god its only five years. If it was more they would robbed this country more and even ruined it more.

Selvyn Friday, 25 January 2019 07:40 AM

Your are a liability with your inability to be an MP. You kept on scratching his back and he gave you a huge pat on your back. You 18 liability MPs are a burden to SLFP

Unchikun Friday, 25 January 2019 07:55 AM

The 19th amendment to the constitution was debated and passed in parliament, not in UK parliament but in the Sri Lanka parliament. It looks like you and your party never read the constitution. Not too late to get a copy and read and study it. It is available to download.

LW Friday, 25 January 2019 08:06 AM

Just as well: People are 'fed-up' with this 'pick-pocket' of a President already, at the end of just four years of his current term. The only consolation for us is that he will be 'ex-president' in a year. Surely, the populace can not tolerate his antics for a sixth year. This greedy bloke will find this out himself, if he is stupid enough to contest seeking yet another 'term'!

ransam Friday, 25 January 2019 08:09 AM

Thank god for that clause. Otherwise we will have to suffer for another one year

Samson Friday, 25 January 2019 08:35 AM

You guys will not understand legislation or laws that are proposed since the majority of you are not even O level qualified.

තොත්ත බබා Friday, 25 January 2019 08:36 AM

තොත්ත බබා

elmi Friday, 25 January 2019 08:48 AM

What the devil were you doing when the draft was submitted. Do you raise your hand without reading..... shows the calibre of all these political clowns

Nuka Friday, 25 January 2019 08:49 AM

The 6.2 million people voted for him with the belief that he would abolish the executive presidency

Buddhist Friday, 25 January 2019 09:14 AM

Is this guy screwed in his head or is it the President? If the President signed the new act 19th Amendment its the fault of the President if its wrong.

Selvyn Friday, 25 January 2019 09:16 AM

Donkeys like you can never understand anything. For your information your big man is not second to and you better know that UNP made him to the thrown. So you are today an MP. Thanks to UNP

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 25 January 2019 09:17 AM

If so, that is excellent. If Sirisena could be kicked out tomorrow this whole country will be happy.

dayan Friday, 25 January 2019 09:20 AM

Correctly the voters rejected these nuts but undemocratic national list allowed them to be MP.

Ajith Friday, 25 January 2019 12:44 PM

My3 himself told n the stage he himself reduce him term.

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UNP trimmed down President's term to five years: SLFP

Comments - 19

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