Lanka SC to deliver public opinion on Rajapaksa's eligibility to contest third presidential term

A full bench of Sri Lanka's Supreme Court will announce its opinion publicly on incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa's eligibility to contest for a third term.

The opinion, according to the Colombo Page web site, was endorsed by the nine Supreme Court judges who met in the Chief Justice's room at the Supreme Court and discussed for about an hour-and-a-half before endorsing their opinion on the President's requests.

The Supreme Court Bench comprised Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Justice K. Sripavan, Justice Chandra Ekanayake, Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Eva Wanasundera, Justice Rohini Marasinghe, Justice B.P. Aluvihara, Justice Sisira de Abrew, Justice Sarath de Abrew and Justice Priyantha Jayawardena.

Earlier, the President had submitted a series of questions to the Supreme Court for its consideration asking the apex court to submit its opinion on to him before November 10.

President Rajapaksa, who was elected in January 2010 for a second term in office, asked the Supreme Court whether the Constitution, as amended by the 18th Amendment, will allow him to declare his intention to contest for presidency after the expiration of four years from the date of commencement of his second term of office as President on 19th November 2010.

The President made the request in terms of provision 129 (I) of the Constitution.