The Head of State of
the Republic of Sri Lanka is the President.
The President is also the Head of the
Executive, the Head of the Government, and
the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
The President is elected by the people
and holds office for a period of six years.
The President has the right to attend,
address and send messages to Parliament at
any time. The President is also entitled to
all the privileges, immunities and powers of
a Member of Parliament other than the right
to vote, and shall not be liable for any
breach of the privileges of Parliament, or
of its Members.
The Constitution also confers upon an
elected President the power to:
- Make the Statement of Government Policy
in Parliament at the commencement of each
parliamentary session
- Preside at ceremonial sittings of
Parliament
- Receive and recognise, and to appoint and
accredit Ambassadors, High Commissioners,
Plenipotentiaries and other diplomatic
agents
- Keep the Public Seal of the Republic and
to make and execute under the Public Seal
the Acts of Appointment of the Prime
Minister and other Ministers of the Cabinet
of Ministers, the Chief Justice and other
Judges of the Supreme Court, such grants and
dispositions of lands and immovable property
vested in the Republic as The President is
by law required or empowered to do, and to
use the Public Seal for sealing all things
whatsoever that shall pass that Seal
- Declare War and Peace
- Perform all such acts and things, not
being inconsistent with the provisions of
the Constitution or written law, as by
international law, custom or usage The
President is required or authorised to do,
and
- Grant pardon, grant any respite,
substitute a less severe form of punishment
for any punishment and remit the whole or
any part of any punishment imposed.
Under the immunities granted to the
President, no legal proceedings may be
initiated or continued with regard to
official or private matters against the
President while in office. If the President
is unable to perform his duties due to
illness or absence from the country, the
Prime Minister will be appointed to
exercise, perform and discharge the powers,
duties and functions of the President. A
Minister of the Cabinet will then be
appointed to act for the Prime Minister. The
Commissioner General of Elections conducts
the Presidential Elections where the entire
country is considered to be a single
constituency. The winner is required to
receive more than 50% of votes and takes his
oaths as President before the Chief Justice. |