Several Fundamental Rights petitions filed seeking an order to take legal action against those responsible for financial irregularities and mismanagement of the economy are to be heard on July 27 before a Supreme Court's fuller bench.

 

Three university academics, Sri Lankan swimmer and coach Julian Bolling, former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, Transparency International and  Jehan Canaga Retna filed these petitions urging authorities to take legal action against the main culprits responsible for the current economic crisis. 

 

Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya and Justice Yasantha Kodagoda fixed the petitions to be heard before five-judge-bench on July 27.

 

In their petition, Dr. Athulasiri Kumara Samarakoon of the Open University of Sri Lanka and academics Soosaiappu Neavis Morais and Dr. Mahim Mendis had named 39 individuals including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara, former Governors of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal and W.D. Lakshman and former Ministry of Finance Secretary S.R. Atygalle as respondents.

 

The Petitioners stated that the reduction in taxes after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took office as the main reason for the plight of the country’s economy today. They state that the President, together with the former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, have consistently and consciously decided to reduce the taxes payable by the citizenry of the Republic, for the sole purpose of delivering the election promises and this move was purely politically motivated.

 

The petitioners further said due to this tax reduction, the country has suffered enormous and unprecedented economic damage and citizens are facing unprecedented economic hardship, with extreme levels of inflation causing the price of essential goods and services to increase at extreme rates.

 

The petitioners are seeking an order directing the Auditor General to conduct an audit into the affairs of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and determine the loss caused to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

 

President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya with Chandaka Jayasundere appeared for the petitioners. Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appeared for the Attorney General. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)