The Office of the Speaker has denied the authenticity of a letter circulating on social media sites that had allegedly been sent by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to Chief Justice Nalin Perera seeking the Supreme Court’s opinion on whether President Maithripala Sirisena was temporarily unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of his office.

The office confirmed that Speaker Jayasuriya has not sent such a letter to CJ Perera.

The letter that has been circulated on social media was based on Article 37 (2) which states, “If the Chief Justice in consultation with the Speaker is of the opinion that the President is temporarily unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of his office and is unable to make an appointment in terms of paragraph (1) of this Article, he shall communicate in writing his opinion to the Speaker and thereupon the Prime Minister shall exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of President during such period and shall appoint one of the Ministers of the Cabinet to act in the office of Prime Minister during such period, notwithstanding the absence of such appointment as is provided for in paragraph (1) of this Article: Provided that if the office of Prime Minister be then vacant or the Prime Minister is unable to act, the Speaker shall exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of President during such period.” (MM)