The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka the Prime Minister shall act in the office of President during the period between the occurrence of such vacancy and the assumption of office by the new President and shall appoint one of the other Ministers of the Cabinet to act in the office of Prime Minister: Provided that if the office of Prime Minister be then vacant or the Prime Minister is unable to act, the Speaker shall act in the office of President. (d) The person declared elected as President at an election held under this paragraph shall, if such person – (i) is the President in office, hold office 23[for a term of five years] commencing on such date in the year in which that election is held (being a date after such election) or in the succeeding year, as corresponds to the date on which his first term of office commenced, whichever date is earlier; or (ii) is not the President in office, hold office, 24 [for a term of five years] commencing on the date on which the result of such election is declared. (e) A person succeeding to the office of President under the provisions of Article 40 shall not be entitled to exercise the right conferred on a President by sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph. (f) For the purposes of this paragraph, the first term of office of the first President referred to in Article 160 shall be deemed to have commenced on February 4, 1978.] 25 [(4) Where a poll for the election of a President is taken, the term of office of the person elected as President 23 - Substituted by the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 4(2)(b). 24 - Substituted by the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 4(2)(b). 25 - Substituted by the Third Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 2(2). 25