3. Replacement of Article 33 of the Constitution

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

Article 33 of the Constitution is hereby repealed and the following Article substituted therefor:-

33. In addition to the powers and functions expressly conferred on or assigned to him by the

Constitution or by any written law, the President shall have the power-

(a)

to make the Statement of Government

Policy in Parliament at the commencement of each session of Parliament;

(b)

to preside at ceremonial sittings of

Parliament;

(c)

to ensure the creation of proper conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections, at the request of the Election

Commission;

“Powers and functions of the

President.

(d)

to receive and recognize and to appoint and accredit Ambassadors, High

Commissioners, Plenipotentiaries and other diplomatic agents;

(e)

to appoint as President’s Counsel, attorneys-at-law who have reached eminence in the profession and have maintained high standards of conduct and professional rectitude. Every

President’s Counsel appointed under this paragraph shall be entitled to all such privileges as were hitherto enjoyed by a

Queen’s Counsel;

(f)

to 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, the President and other Judges of the Court of Appeal and such grants and dispositions of lands and immovable property vested in the Republic as he is by law required or empowered to do, and to use the Public Seal for sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass that Seal;

(g)

to declare war and peace; and

(h)

to do all such acts and things, not being inconsistent with the provisions of the

Constitution or written law, as by international law, custom or usage he is required or authorized to do.”.

Read on from s 4