President Maithripala Sirisena to hold office till 2021?

President Maithripala Sirisena has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion if he could remain President for six years till 2021.

Details regarding the inquiry have been listed in a letter directed to the Sri Lanka Bar Association by the Registrar of the Supreme Court MM Jayasekara.

The letter says the inquiry was notified by the Chief Justice.

The President has made the inquiry in terms of Article 129(1) of the Constitution and has referred whether in terms of provisions of the Constitution, the President having assumed office in terms of Article 32(1) of the Constitution on the 9th of January 2015 have any impediment to continue in the office of President for a period of 6 years from the 9th of January 2015 the date on which the result of his election to the office of President was declared.

The letter by the Registrar of the Supreme Court claims the matter will be taken up for consideration tomorrow at 11am at the Supreme Court.

The President has also requested the Supreme Court to notify its decision prior to the 14th of January. President Maithripala Sirisena spearheaded the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 2015 to prune the presidential term from six to five years.

The President’s term is due to expire in 2020.