(UTV | COLOMBO) – The Supreme Court today will consider the Fundamental Rights petitions filed against the transfer of 40% of shares of the Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya, to an American firm.
Accordingly, the petition will be taken up for consideration before a five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
The bench also comprises Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda and LTB Dehideniya.
The petitions were filed by over 10 groups including Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the JVP.
The Cabinet of Ministers including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the American company, New Fortress Energy, and the Attorney General have been named as respondents.
Although the Attorney General will represent the Cabinet of Ministers including the Prime Minister, a separate counsel will represent Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Udaya Gammanpila, who are also part of the Cabinet.
The petitions state the decision reached by the Cabinet, to transfer 40% of shares of the Yugadanavi Power Plant to an American firm, was unjust.
The petition further states the respondent American firm will have a monopoly on the production of gas in Sri Lanka through transfer of shares, adding a stringent tender procedure was not followed when transferring the shares.