RW clarifies position on Presidential term amidst Supreme Court application

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday addressed a recent Supreme Court application filed by Chamindra Dayan Lenawa, clarifying that he had not been consulted before the application was submitted. 

In a statement, Wickremesinghe stressed his belief that the Presidential term is five years, aligning with the Election Commission’s plan to hold the next Presidential election in 2024. 



On 3 July, Lenawa filed an application under Articles 126 and other related sections of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, seeking a Supreme Court declaration that Article 30(2) was not amended by Section 3 of the 19th Amendment. 

Lenawa argues that the term of the President should be six years and has requested an interim order to stop the Election Commission from conducting the election in 2024 until the Court resolves the matter.

He filed an Application in the Supreme Court under and in terms of Articles 126 read with Articles 12(1), 82(6), 3, 4, 118 and 125 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka praying, inter alia, for a declaration that Article 30(2) should not be interpreted to be amended ab initio by Section 3 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and accordingly the Election Commission shall hold the next Presidential election taking into account that the term of the office of the President is six years and for an interim order

restraining the members of the Election Commission from taking any further steps in conducting a Presidential election in 2024 until the Supreme Court determines this

Application.

However, President Wickremesinghe reaffirmed his stance, supporting the Election Commission’s timeline and distancing himself from the application filed by Lenawa.