SLFP seeks Court to fix SL Presidential election in 2006

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 August 2005, 16:58 GMT]
Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, Tuesday filed a petition with the Supreme Court to order the Commissioner of Elections to hold the next Sri Lanka Presidential election in 2006, legal sources said.

Incumbent President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge, currently serving her second term, is also the President of the SLFP. Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena is a senior minister in the UPFA government.

Mr Sirisena filed the petition as an intervenient in the petition filed by the all monks' party, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), in the Supreme Court seeking the court to order the Commissioner of Elections to hold the next Presidential election before the end of 2005 as stipulated in the 1978 Sri Lanka's Republic Constitution.

The SC has fixed the inquiry into the JHU petition for August 22. SLFP's petition will also to be takeup for inquiry on the same date before a five-member bench, legal sources said.

Supreme Court will consider holding inquiry into the President's application seeking advisory opinion in this controversy after deciding on the petitions by the JHU and the SLFP, legal sources said.

Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena has said in his petition that Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge was elected President for the second term on December 22, 1999 and took oaths later before the Chief Justice. However, her second term began when she took oath on 12 November 2000. Therefore, Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge is entitled to hold office of the executive presidency till December 22, 2006, legal sources said.

term is also the President of the SLFP. Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena is a senior minister in the UPFA government, sources said.

Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena filed the petition as an intervenient in the petition filed by the all monks' party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) in the Supreme Court seeking the court to order the Commissioner of Elections to hold the next Presidential election before the end of 2005 as stipulated in the 1978 Sri Lanka's Republic Constitution. The SC has fixed the inquiry into the JHU petition for August 22 SLFP's petition is also to be listed for inquiry on the same date August 22 along with the JHU petition before a five-member bench, legal sources said.

SC will consider holding inquiry into the President's application seeking advisory opinion in this controversy after deciding on the petitions by the JHU and the SLFP, legal sources said

Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena has said in his petition that Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge was elected President for the second term on December 22, 1999 and took oaths later before the Chief Justice. However her second term began when she took oaths on 12 November 2000. Therefore Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge is entitled to hold office pf the executive presidency till December 22, 2006. Hence the court should order the Commissioner of Elections to hold presidential elections in the year 2006, legal sources said.