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EC says presidential poll in 2005

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has laid to rest speculation over the date of the next presidential election, stating the election will be held in 2005.

Controversy erupted after it was earlier reported that President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was elected for a second term in December 1999 after taking oaths on December 22, 1999 had once again secretly taken oaths before Chief Justice Sarath Silva in November 2000.

The Chief Justice confirmed the secret oath taking ceremony in November 2000 fuelling reports that the President would thereby have an additional year in office, with the next presidential election due accordingly only in 2006.

The Chief Justice was also quoted as stating it is for the Elections Commissioner to determine when the next presidential election is due and if he is unable to decide it could be referred to the Supreme Court for a determination.

Government Spokesman, Constitutional Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris however dismissed the secret oath taking ceremony as a farce, stating the next presidential election will have to be held in 2005.

Elections Commissioner Dissanayake confirmed to The Sunday Leader the next presidential election would be held according to the constitution after the full term of office of the head of state.

He told The Sunday Leader the term of office of a head of state according to the constitution is six years and added the forthcoming presidential election too should be held according to the constitution in 2005 as the last presidential election was held in 1999.

The Commissioner says the next presidential election should be held after six years from the date the previous election was held. The previous presidential election was held on December 21, 1999.

Meanwhile, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Ravi Karunanayake is to move a resolution in parliament calling upon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to take oaths as the President. Karunanayake has argued in cabinet that the President is constitutionally empowered to hold office for only two terms and that President Kumaratunga ceases to hold the office of President from the date she took oaths for the third time.

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