News
AG requests full bench for Yugadanavi petitions
by AJA Abeynayake
The Attorney General on Friday requested the Supreme Court to appoint a full bench of five or more judges to hear fundamental rights petitions filed against the Cabinet decision to transfer 40 percent of the state-owned shares of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant to an American company, New Fortress Energy (NFE).
Additional Solicitor General Farzana Jameel, who appeared for the Attorney General, requested the appointment a full bench to hear the case when relevant petitions were taken up for consideration before Supreme Court Judges Buwaneka Aluwihare, A.M.H.D. Nawaz and Mahinda Samayawardena on Friday (12).
Jameel stressed the need for appointing a full bench to consider these petitions of national importance.
The three-judge bench said that the Attorney General’s request would be referred to the Chief Justice.
The FR petitions were filed by the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Ven Elle Gunawansa Thero, The opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), former JVP MPs Sunil Handunnetti and Wasantha Samarasinghe and a group including Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara and Dr. Wasantha Bandara.
The petitioners have challenged the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to transfer shares in West Coast Power Limited (WCP) – the owner of the 310 MW Yugadanavi Power Plant to US-based NFE.
The petitioners claimed that the government has not properly explained particulars of the deal even to the Cabinet of Ministers and also alleged that the government failed to obtain the approval of Parliament for signing the agreement in question.Also, the relevant share transfer process had not been carried out in accordance with formal tender procedure.
The court directed that the fundamental rights petitions be considered on Nov 27.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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