President Mahinda Rajapaksa today sought the opinion of Supreme Court on legitimacy of his third term presidency. 

The Supreme Court, subsequent to the President’s move, has ordered relevant parties to present written submissions before 3 pm on November 07. 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s candidacy for his third term became a matter of contention with many parties voicing different opinions on the matter. 

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka incumbent President, Upul Jayasuriya has sought the opinion of one of the most distinguished jurists in the ESCAP region, a Sri Lankan, presently domiciled in Australia, Suri Ratnapala, Professor of Law at the University of Queensland.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka incumbent President, Upul Jayasuriya sought the opinion of one of the most distinguished jurists in the ESCAP region, a Sri Lankan, presently domiciled in Australia, Suri Ratnapala, Professor of Law at the University of Queensland. Ratnapala said the incumbent could not contest for his third term as the President Mahinda Rajapaksa was disqualified from seeking a third term during the period January 26, 2010 to September 9, 2010, when the Eighteenth Amendment became Law.

Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva too setting forth an argument said that constitutional obstacles do exist for the incumbent President to contest for a third term notwithstanding the removal of two term limit of presidents made on 9 September 2010 by way of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.

However, another section of the legal fraternity supporting the President have challenged this argument saying President Rajapaksa is allowed to contest for a third term.