The hearing of petitions against the controversial deal made on selling shares of the Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya has been adjourned as per the order of the Supreme Court.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court today (12) declared that the petitions against the Yugadanavi Deal be heard on January 19, 20 and 21.
These petitions were taken up for hearing for the fourth day today, before a Five-member Bench comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda and L.T.B. Dehideniya led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
The petitions have been filed by Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thero, Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Secretary General MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, former MPs of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Sunil Handunnetti and Wasantha Samarasinghe and trade unions, saying that the Cabinet’s conclusion on selling 40 per cent of the government shares of the Plant to a US company is not just.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Board of Ministers, West Coast Power Private Limited, the company owning the Yugadanavi Plant, New Fortress Energy the US Company and the Attorney General have been cited as respondents to the petitions.
Revealing that the handing over of the shares followed an irregular tender criterion, the petitioners alleged that the Cabinet failed to address issues such as the national economy and national security before making such a decision and that the gas monopoly of Sri Lanka has been handed over on a silver plate to the said US company, thereby violating the fundamental rights of the Sri Lankan citizens.
The petitioners also requested the Court to issue an order nullifying the decision taken by the Cabinet to hand over the government shares of the plant.
MIAP
