The Constitutional Council (CC) during its last convened meeting discussed the need to introduce the tenure of four years to key positions including the Chief Justice, Attorney General, Auditor General and the IGP.
According to highly placed sources the recommendation has been minuted.
Advisor to the President, Shriral Lakthilake said the President’s office had not been informed of such a recommendation.
“The Constitutional Council has so far not informed the Executive of such a recommendation. However, to move something of this nature it has to come through a constitutional amendment. That should be initiated through a different channel. So far this has not been taken beyond a discussion at the Constitutional Council,” he said.
Constitutional expert Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne told the Sunday Observer that such a change should be brought in as a constitutional amendment.
A proposal to introduce a time limit to key positions has been in the air for some time, where at times, there were attempts to introduce such a limit.
Under the prevailing law, the appointees to these positions can remain in office until the age of retirement, at 65 years.
“There have been instances where we have had personnel holding these key positions for decades until they reach the age of retirement. This has its pros and cons,” a senior lawyer said.