President of Sri Lanka Presidential Standard Incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa since November 19, 2005 Residence President's House Term length Six years, renewable Inaugural holder William Gopallawa 22 May, 1972 Formation May 22, 1972 Website president.gov.lk Sri Lanka This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Sri Lanka Constitution Constitution Human rights Government President Mahinda Rajapaksa Prime Minister Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne Cabinet Ministries Parliament Parliament Speaker Leader of the Opposition Judiciary Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka Political parties Political parties Elections Elections Subdivisions Provinces Districts Divisional Secretariats Local Government Foreign policy Foreign relations Related issues Civil War Sri Lanka Portal

Other countries · Atlas Politics portal view · talk · The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power. The current President is Mahinda Rajapaksa. Contents 1 Sri Lanka's executive presidency 2 List of presidents 3 Other information 4 Last election 5 See also 6 External links Sri Lanka's executive presidency At independence, executive power in Ceylon resided with the monarch of Ceylon, represented by the Governor-General, which was exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister. The 1972 constitution replaced the monarch with a president, but that remained a mostly ceremonial position.

The 1978 constitution moved from a Westminster-based political system into one modeled on France. As in France, a new, directly elected President with a longer term and independence from Parliament was created. The President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, head of the Cabinet, appoints the prime minister, and could dissolve parliament (after one year has passed since the convening of parliament after a parliamentary election)citation needed The 17th constitutional amendment of 2001 reduced certain powers of the President in particular in regard to the appointment of the upper judiciary and independent commissions such as the election commission or the bribery and corruption commission. After 2005 this amendment has been illegally ignored by the president.

In practice, the Sri Lankan presidency was much more powerful than the President of France. French presidents traditionally deal only with defense and foreign policy, leaving domestic affairs to the Prime Minister. Sri Lankan presidents are involved with every aspect of the government and are able to hold ministries, or can bypass the cabinet posts by delegating decisions to the Presidential Secretariat. Presidents have little constraints on their power and they cannot be taken to court. However they can be impeached by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. They can place the country in a state of emergency, under which they can override any law passed by Parliamentcitation needed and promulgate any regulation without needing legislative approval. However, to prolong the state of emergency for more than a month parliamentary approval is needed.

At the opening of Parliament, the President delivers an address similar to a Speech from the Throne, outlining government policy. The President has the power to appoint Attorneys-at-Laws to the position of President's Counsel and military personal to the post of Aide de Camp to the President. In the 1994 election, Chandrika Kumaratunga of the People's Alliance promised to be the last Executive President, bringing in constitutional reforms to return to Westminster-style government. This did not happen during her time in office. While some political parties have expressed their concerns on the executive presidency, its abolition is unlikely within the current Sri Lankan political framework. List of presidents Main article: List of Presidents of Sri Lanka Other information The Old Parliament Building the near the Galle Face Green, now the Presidential Secretariat Main article: Presidential Secretariat

The official residence of the president is the President's House (formally the Queen's House as the residences of the Governor General) in Colombo. However the president's office is the Presidential Secretariat which is at the former Parliament building in Colombo, where many formal functions takes place. Other presidential residences include: the President's Pavilion, in Kandy, is a presidential residences used for (rare) state functions; the Queen's Cottage is the official presidential vacationing residence in the town of Nuwara Eliya. In recent years from time to time Prime Minister's House, commonly referred to as Temple Tree's, which has been the official residence of the Prime Minister since 1948, has been used by presidents. Last election e • d Summary of the 2010 Sri Lankan presidential election Candidate Party Votes  %   Mahinda Rajapaksa United People's Freedom Alliance 6,015,934 57.88%   Sarath Fonseka New Democratic Front 4,173,185 40.15% Mohomad Cassim Mohomad Ismail Democratic United National Front 39,226 0.38% Achala Ashoka Suraweera National Development Front 26,266 0.25% Channa Janaka Sugathsiri Gamage United Democratic Front 23,290 0.22% W. V. Mahiman Ranjith Independent 18,747 0.18% A. S. P Liyanage Sri Lanka Labour Party 14,220 0.14% Sarath Manamendra New Sinhala Heritage 9,684 0.09%   M. K. Shivajilingam Independent 9,662 0.09% Ukkubanda Wijekoon Independent 9,381 0.09% Lal Perera Our National Front 9,353 0.09%   Siritunga Jayasuriya United Socialist Party 8,352 0.08%   Vikramabahu Karunaratne Left Front 7,055 0.07% Aithurus M. Illias Independent 6,131 0.06%   Wije Dias Socialist Equality Party 4,195 0.04% Sanath Pinnaduwa National Alliance 3,523 0.03% M. Mohamed Musthaffa Independent 3,134 0.03% Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero Jana Setha Peramuna 2,770 0.03% Senaratna de Silva Patriotic National Front 2,620 0.03% Aruna de Zoyza Ruhuna People's Party 2,618 0.03% Upali Sarath Kongahage United National Alternative Front 2,260 0.02% Muthu Bandara Theminimulla All Are Citizens, All Are Kings Organisation 2,007 0.02% Valid Votes 10,393,613 100.00% Rejected Votes 101,838 Total Polled 10,495,451 Registered Electors 14,088,500 Turnout 74.50% Source: Department of Elections, Sri Lanka See also Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidential Secretariat President's Security Division President's Guard External links Website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka - list of Heads of State Sri Lankan President's Official Web Site Indian Express on the Executive Presidency Sri Lanka President 2010 News