• Says as per 19A, no President could exercise power exceeding five years

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

Claiming that people continue to go to court at their whims  and fancies to prevent the Presidential Election, Justice Minister  Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday requested people and lawyers not to make a mockery of the judiciary.  

 The Minister told this in Parliament while responding to a  question by MP Dullas Alahapperuma regarding another petition filed by a  citizen to prevent the Presidential Election being declared until the 19th  Amendment to the Constitution is approved by a referendum.   

MP Alahapperuma said a conspiracy is being hatched to  create confusion among the voters, people and in the country regarding  the presidential election at the eleventh hour.

   
He said the Election Commission would be authorised in four  days to commence the activities related to the presidential election.     

Minister Rajapakshe said the 19th Amendment was introduced  as per the mandate in 2015 to restrict the term of the President and  Parliament to five years and the amendments were brought in with the  observation of the Supreme Court adding that amendments which required  to be passed by a referendum were not included in the 19A.   

He said as per the 19A, no President could exercise power exceeding five years.   

“A situation has arisen where people continue to make  a mockery of the judiciary at their whims and fancies. People and lawyers,  who are aware of the law, also shamelessly file petitions in court. People  and lawyers should not make a mockery of the judiciary. We as politicians,  should not overstay in power at least a day. As the saying goes, We  should go home before we are tagged with ‘dog mark’,” he said.