Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena has asked the Supreme Court for its view on whether he can extend his term in office till 2021, making his presidency a total of 6 years.
According to the 19th Amendment to the constitution which the government hailed as evidence of its revolutionary governance and part of its 100 day 'good governance' plan, a president's term is limited to 5 years.
In a letter to the Supreme Court, which has been published by Sri Lanka's Sunday Times, Mr Sirisena askes, "“Whether, in terms of Provisions of the Constitution, I, as the person elected and succeeding to the office of President and having assumed such office in terms of Article 32(1) of the Constitution on 09th January 2015, have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of 6 years from 09th January 2015, the date on which the result of my election to the office of President was declared”.
Read more here.
Section 30 of the 19th Amendment states: “The President of the Republic. Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution 3 (2) The President of the Republic shall be elected by the People and shall hold office for a term of five years.
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