MR cannot contest for Presidency again - Min. Wijeydasa R.

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs (Dr.) Wijeydasa Rajapkashe states that Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot run for president once again. With the next presidential election on the horizon, there is a lot of debate as to who will contest for the upcoming election. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced his plans for a presidential run while it seems highly likely that President Maithripala Sirisena would seek a second term. The Joint Opposition or the SLPP seems to be split on who their Presidential candidate will be with a number of Rajapaksas jostling for the position. It is in this backdrop that President's counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa stated that neither President Mahinda Rajapaksa nor President Chandrika Kumaranatunga, who both served two terms each, will be able to run for president once more. Rajapakshe states that it is clearly mentioned in the 19th amendment to the constitution that an individual who served two terms as president would be disqualified from running for president once again. However, he did note that both the former Presidents do not have any legal impediments to become the Prime Minister, a Minister or an MP.