MR has to go immediately if defeated– UNP
No staying on for the unutilised two years of his present term
December 17, 2014, 12:00 pm
By Dasun Edirisinghe
If President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated at the January 08 Presidential Election he would have to vacate the post immediately though he had two more years of his previous term, UNP Colombo District MP Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, PC said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s office on Havelock Road, Rajapakshe said that President Rajapaksa did not have legal power to continue for two more years in case of defeat.
The President’s Counsel maintained that it was clearly indicated in Article 31 (4) (b) of the Constitution. According to the Article 31 (4) (b) of the Constitution, where the President in office is not a candidate or is not re-elected, at a poll for the election of President, his term of office shall be deemed to have expired on the date on which the result of such election is declared. The person elected as President at such election shall assume office forthwith, but not later than two weeks from such date.
A section of Buddhist monks recently told the media that President Rajapaksa could continue for two more years to complete his previous term in case of his defeat at the January 08 polls, but he could not do so, the UNP MP said.
Rajapakshe said that President Rajapaksa had promised Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to vacate the post if he was defeated.
Western Provincial Council UNP member Srinath Perera PC said that the statement of a section of Buddhist monks that President Rajapaksa could continue for two more years proved that Rajapaksa camp had already accepted defeat.
He asked Buddhist monks to think twice before issuing such statements.
Former Western Provincial Council UNP member Shiral Lakthilaka also addressed the media.
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