2 February 2010 11:42 am
The Supreme Court has determined that the second term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa begins from November 19, 2010 and not November 19, 2011, an official at the President’s office told Daily Mirror online.
The communiqué making the determination was sent to the President’s office today, the spokesman for the President’s office Lucien Rajakarunanayake told Daily Mirror online.
“The Supreme Court communiqué has reached the President’s office today and it states that President Mahinda Rajapakse’s second term will begin on November 19, 2010,” Mr. Rajakarunanayake told Daily Mirror online.
A seven judge Bench of the Supreme Court on Monday took up the reference made by President elect Mahinda Rajapakse seeking the opinion on the question as to when his second term of office as President would start and end.
The Bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justices Shirani A. Bandaranayake, Jagath Balapatabendi, K. Sripavan, P.A. Ratnayake, Chandra Ekanayake and S.I. Imam.
Attorney General Mohan Peiris with Deputy Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya and Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle and A.H.M.D.Nawaz maintained that the date the President has to assume office as being November 19, 2010.
President’s Counsel D.S. Wijesinghe appearing for intervenient petitioner Mendis Rohanadeera and President’s Counsel Nihal Jayamanne appearing for intervenient Petitioner Sarath Kongahage maintained that the date the President has to assume office as being November 19, 2011.
They contended that the incumbent President sought the mandate from people for a further term of office of Presidency for 6 years. They maintained that the people had given him the mandate of first term of his office for 6 years and that it cannot be abridged or truncated.