What happens after the President resigns? BASL explains process to elect new President

by Zulfick Farzan 10-07-2022 | 3:38 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Bar Association of Sri Lanka convening a special press conference on Sunday (10) afternoon elaborated on the process that should be followed by the President, and the Prime Minister in vacating their posts.

BASL President Saliya Pieris, PC told reporters that in terms of the constitution, the President must address to speaker a letter signed by him of his decision to step down, and when the position is vacant the Prime Minister would take over as acting President.

"If the Prime Minister is not able to act as president, then it would the speaker who would act as president," said the BASL President adding that the position of temporary President will be ONLY for one months.

He said then within that month, the Parliament must select a successor for the remaining period of the tenure of the President who vacated his post.

Commenting on the Prime Minister, the BASL President said that if the Prime Minister is to resign, he must write to the President of his decision to step down.

"In Sri Lanka we had only one instance before, when President (Ranasinghe) Premadasa was assasinted on the 1st of May 1993.m D. B. Wijetunga was appointed as Acting President, and within one week the Parliament elected the new President," he said.

The Bar Association President said that Parliamentarians can elect the new President from among themselves, and the new President must be elected from among those eligible for the post.

He said the process is such that the elected Member of Parliament must secure over 50% of the votes that are cast for the election of the President.

"If all MPs vote, the MP elected must have 113 votes," he said.

"This country cannot have instability for a long period of time," warned the BASL President.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka urged the President, PM, Speaker, MPs, Political Leaders to understand the gravity of the situation and they have an obligation to ensure that the transition of power is smooth.

"Do not delay the process of transition," he urged.

If President resigns on 13th, the transition must be done soon, and there should not be any delay, said the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

"We need a smooth transition, and this is a time where all must respect the rule of law, democracy, and this is a time for national unity," said BASL President Saliya Pieris, PC.

He said that the government of national unity where all parties in government join the government, with a PM acceptable by all parties, must have a common program to address urgent economic issues..