News

Counsel Egalahewa explains to SC why three ministers opposed Yugadanavi deal

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

* 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.

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Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.

News

Johnston, two sons and two others further remanded over alleged misuse of vehicle

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and others being escorted out of the Wattala Magistrate Court premises yesterday

Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.

Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.

In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during

Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.

After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.