• Claims only Prez elected by people not P’ment can declare same after 4-yrs, notes that Prez can seek SC interpretation

Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Counsel (PC) Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that being a President who was elected by the Parliament, incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe can seek a Supreme Court (SC) interpretation regarding the possibility of calling a Presidential Election before the stipulated date, as he is not capable of calling an early Election as per the provisions in the Constitution.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (16), in the wake of media reports circulating to the effect that President Wickremesinghe is looking into the possibility of amending the Constitution in order to call for an early Presidential Election, he also said that he, in his capacity as the Minister in charge of Constitutional Reforms, is not aware of such a decision being taken by the President.

He noted that only a President who is elected by the people can call a Presidential Election after four years lapse since the day when he/she assumed the Presidency. “I am not aware of such a decision. To my knowledge, he is not able to do so. According to the Constitution, only a President who is elected by the people can call a Presidential Election after four years lapse since the day when he/she assumed the Presidency. The incumbent was elected by the Parliament. Therefore, President Wickremesinghe will not be able to call an early Presidential Election in the present atmosphere,” he said.

He also said that it is all up to the SC to decide as to whether it is suitable to hold a Presidential Election in such a context.