26 March 2022 12:00 am Views - 111
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday filed two fundamental rights applications in the nature of public interest before Supreme Court regarding the current economic crisis.
The BASL is seeking orders directing the Cabinet of Ministers to immediately consult with all the relevant stakeholders and independent experts to formulate and implement policies to provide uninterrupted access to provide concessions in relation to the prices of essential goods and services to the people including LP gas, fuel, electricity, milk powder, medicines and food.
These petitions were filed by the President of the BASL Saliya Pieris PC, Deputy President Anura Meddegoda PC, Secretary, Rajeev Amarasuriya, Treasurer, Rajindh Perera and the Assistant Secretary Pasindu Silva.
The Petitions state that the country is at present witnessing long queues for the purchase of essential supplies, mass protests and public unrest due to acute shortages and the sharp increase in the cost of goods and services including food, fuel and travel costs.
The Petitioners are complaining that Sri Lanka is currently facing an unprecedented economic and financial crisis resulting in acute shortages of fuel, electricity, gas, food, milk powder and medicines.
The Petitioners stated that they were compelled to come before the court due to the severe shortages in essential goods and services that are considered vital for the survival and existence of the citizens in the country in whom is guaranteed the fundamental right to equality, equal protection of the law and the right to life under the Constitution.
The petitions have made the Attorney General, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries to several Ministries, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation as Respondents.
The Petitioners have claimed that their fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 11, 12(1), 13(4), 14(1)(g), 14(1)(h) and 14A of the Constitution are being violated or are in imminent danger of infringement by the actions and inaction of the State, including the respondents.
The Petitioners further state that in view of the growing unrest and public protests witnessed across the island, they verily fear that there is a substantial, real and grave threat of a breakdown in the law-and-order situation of the Country and a substantial threat to the Rule of Law, which should be addressed through timely and proportionate measures within the legal framework of the country.
This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-law G.G. Arulpragasam.