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GL: Constitutional constraints prevent President from holding snap presidential election

Published

2 years ago

2023/08/4

By Rathindra Kuruwita

President Ranil Wickremesinghe can start the process of seeking a new mandate only by the end of July 2024, Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member and MP Prof. G.L Peiris says.Prof. Peiris said that a president who was elected by the people could seek a fresh mandate four years after his or her election, but a president elected by Parliament was without that right.

Wickremesinghe had been elected by parliament, and therefore he had to complete the remainder of his predecessor’s term, but he could introduce a constitutional amendment to enable himself to hold a snap presidential election, said Prof. Peiris. Such an amendment had to be passed with a two-thirds majority. There was no need for a referendum, Prof. Peiris said.

Commenting on the 13th Amendment, Prof. Peiris said that seven executive presidents before Ranil Wickremesinghe had not fully implemented it for a reason.

‘The President called for an All Party Conference (APC) on devolution. The discussion was mainly on the full implementation of 13A, i. e., with police powers. We must first try to understand why previous Presidents didn’t fully implement 13A. If the same reasons that held their hands still remain, it is impossible to continue with the APC. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said they would not support it. The president must present the other parties with a proposal that has the backing of the government,” he said.

Prof. Peiris said that almost all opposition political parties were of the view that provincial council elections had to be held. This should be done prior to any discussion on 13A, Prof. Peiris said.

“If there are no provincial councils with elected representatives, who is to be entrusted with the full powers of 13A?” he asked.

The MP said that the President had promised Tamil political parties that a solution to the ethnic problem would be found by the end of the year. The collapse of the APC had shown that it was not possible for him to keep his promise. By making promises that he can’t keep, the President has disappointed Tamil parties and his credibility has suffered, Prof. Peiris said.

“The ethnic problem is a complex, hard, and a very emotional issue. Only a government that has a mandate from the people can do it. J.R. Jayewardene had a five-sixths majority in Parliament. Mahinda Rajapaksa had a close to two-thirds majority. Even they couldn’t fully implement 13A. So, how can this government and the President implement 13A within months?” he asked.

Prof. Peiris added that Sri Lanka must do more to engage with China to restructure its external debt. The government seemed to think that India and Japan could talk to China on behalf of Sri Lanka.

Prof. Peiris also said that there was no constitutional requirement for the government to obtain parliamentary approval for the domestic debt restructuring agreement. The President had presented the debt-restructuring plan to Parliament to cover his back, said Prof. Peiris, adding that the President should have provided parliament with all the information. The President had only provided the staff-level agreement the government had with the IMF, six months later. Parliament had been asking for information. When Ranil was a member of the opposition, he asked the then Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to reveal all agreements with the IMF to Parliament. However, when he became President, he refused to do so, Prof. Peiris said.

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Related Topics:Freedom People’s Congress President Ranil Wickremesinghe

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

19 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

20 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

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RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

21 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.