The Hindu : Chandrika's 'second swearing-in ceremony' criticised

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 15, 2004

International

International

Chandrika's 'second swearing-in ceremony' criticised

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, JAN. 14. Sri Lanka's bitter political standoff between the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, today showed signs of escalating further with the Cabinet spokesman, G.L. Peiris, strongly criticising Ms. Kumaratunga's "second swearing-in ceremony'' and her stand that she could continue as President till the end of 2006.

Referring to Ms. Kumaratunga's acceptance of a "second swearing-in ceremony'' that would effectively extend her second term of office till 2006, Prof. Peiris raised questions as to "why does an oath have to be taken in secret.'' The "whole purpose'' of a swearing-in ceremony for a head of State, he said, "is that the public should hold witness,'' but in the case of the "alleged'' second swearing-in ceremony, "the Parliament, the Cabinet and the public were not aware.''

The second swearing-in "that is alleged to have occurred,'' he said, was "absolutely unique in any democratic country'' and "raised grave issues of credibility.''

Sharply criticising the President's position in a Sinhalese language interview over State TV last night that she would decide when her term of office ends, Prof. Peiris said: "That degree of arrogance is unacceptable with regard to the tenure of any public position. No one who holds public office is in a position to say that they will decide for themselves when their office comes to an end.''

Ms. Kumaratunga had said she "was constitutionally empowered to continue her present term of office until 2006, whatever arguments were advanced to the contrary.

The President said it was her prerogative to step down before or otherwise,'' an official summary of last night's Sinhalese language interview said today. According to Ms. Kumaratunga, the oath of office taken in December 1999 "was done in an abundance of precaution in the wake of an attempt on her life,'' the official summary said.

According to the Sri Lankan Constitution: "Where a poll for the election of a President is taken, the term of office of the person elected a President at such election shall commence on the expiration of the term of office of the President in office.''

Reiterating the Government's position that Ms. Kumaratunga's term of office ends next year, Prof. Peiris, who is the Constitutional Affairs Minister, and held the same portfolio when he was in Ms. Kumaratunga's political party, said the general belief in 1999 was that Ms. Kumaratunga was "sacrificing'' a year of her six-year term.

Contrary to the sharp posture by Prof. Peiris, the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, made no mention on the term of Presidency, nor did he take on Ms. Kumaratunga.

Furthering his stance adopted since the November 4, standoff, Mr. Wickremesinghe at a public meeting here this evening said the "people's peace process,'' initiated by him was in trouble after Ms. Kumaratunga took over the Ministries of Defence, Interior and Mass Communication.

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