News
Counsel Egalahewa explains to SC why three ministers opposed Yugadanavi deal
* Cabinet Memo on Yugadanavi deal was not made available to Ministers
By Chitra Weerarathne
A proper Cabinet memorandum on the Yugadanavi issue had not been made available to the Cabinet of Ministers, Uditha Egalahewa, President’s Counsel told the Supreme Court yesterday.
President’s Counsel Egalahewa appeared for petitioner-Cabinet Ministers, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila. They have filed fundamental rights violation petitions against the agreements the government of Sri Lanka has entered into with the New Fortress Energy Company of New York, USA.
The agreements include the handing over of 40 percent shares of the Yugadanavi Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya to New Fortress Energy Company.
The agreement was signed on September 1st 2021.
The Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers and the Attorney General are among the respondents.
Counsel Egalahewa PC, referred to the objections raised by the Cabinet Secretary and the Attorney General in respect of these petitions. The Cabinet Secretary has said that according to Article 43(1), a Cabinet decision was binding on all ministers.
Counsel Uditha Egalahewa stressed that the Cabinet memorandum had not been made available to the Ministers, and therefore no collective decision had been taken as a result.
Counsel Egalahewa, also said that his clients had not breached the collective responsibility of the Cabinet of Ministers. The three petitioner Ministers had kept up the Constitutional duties mentioned in Article 45(3) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Counsel Egalahewa, referring to published law reports, explained that the duty of the Attorney General was to expose the truth to the Court and the people.
He said that New Fortress Energy had been registered on 06 August 2018. Throughout they had used different names. But only the address had remained the same.
There was no transparency in the proposals for development submitted by New Fortress, the counsel said.
No proper evaluation and assessment had been done, before entering into the agreement. Environment impacts had not been considered, the Counsel said.
The bench comprised, the Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Vijith K. Malalgoda and Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
A meeting between representatives of UNICEF and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on the 10th of December at the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the discussion, an initial review of the new digitalization policy draft was conducted, and it was emphasized that the new digital policy must be formulated to align with the ongoing education reforms.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the digital policy should be developed in a way that supports all five core pillars of the current education reforms, including curriculum reform, infrastructure development, and administrative restructuring.
It was further noted that the current draft is primarily focused on curriculum-related matters, and the digital policy should be structured to influence the overall education reform process.
Extensive discussions were also held on the importance of digital literacy, NEMIS, the provision of digital infrastructure, and minimizing the existing digital divide.
Attention was also drawn to the gaps in the current teacher training mechanisms , and the Prime Minister stressed the need to reduce paper usage.
The meeting was attended by the UNICEF representatives Dr. Emma Brigham and Deborah Wyburn, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary A.B.M. Ashraff, and several other officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Pregnant Mothers to receive Rs 5000 Nutrition Allowance in December
640 deaths, 211 missing as at 6:00AM today (13)
New Digitalization Policy draft reviewed
The government is taking steps to streamline trade facilitation, customs processes, investment approvals, and improving export facilities – Prime Minister
Showers will occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva, Central and North-Western provinces.
Big fossil fuel companies are responsible for climate crisis but poor countries like Sri Lanka are battered by it – Greenpeace South Asia
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