News
PC polls possible before presidential election
The prospects of Provincial Council elections ahead of this year’s presidential poll will form the subject of discussion when President Maithripala Sirisena meets National Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya.
President Sirisena, who returned to Colombo from a private visit to Britain, is to schedule a meeting with the Polls Chief in the light of Mr. Deshapriya’s intimation that PC polls could be followed by the presidential election.
This new turn of events came after President Sirisena learnt from his legal advisors before leaving for Britain that he could not seek an extended term from the Supreme Court. As reported last week, he was to seek a fresh determination on the basis that his tenure should begin from May 15, 2015 when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution cutting his term from six years to five was signed into law by the Speaker, and not January 9, 2015 when he took his oath as President.
He has now been told that the questions he wanted to raise have already been resolved by a 12-page Supreme Court determination President Sirisena sought in 2018 regarding the duration of his term of office. The SC also said it could review legislation only during the pre-enactment period.
A five-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice Priyasath Dep said as the 19th Amendment to the Constitution had now become law, the SC had no power to inquire into the validity or the constitutionality of the amendment.
Hence, President Sirisena has decided not to seek a fresh determination.
The PC polls and the presidential election were discussed by NEC Chairman Deshapriya with President Sirisena before his departure to Britain. He has also had discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.