EP Governor, GSMB drama Stay Order preventing EP Governor interfering with GSMB further extended

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Court of Appeal yesterday further extended its Stay Order preventing Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman from interfering with the functions of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB).  

The petitioner GSMB maintained that the Governor’s directives had obstructed the operations of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), which had previously granted a mineral exploration licence in the Trincomalee District to a company called Midwest Heavy Sands Ltd.  

When the petition came up for notice returnable on the respondents, the petitioner Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau moved to extend the Stay Order. After considering applications made by the respondents, the court directed the respondents to file their statements of objections and counter affidavits thereafter. The counsel appearing for the Minister of Environment, under whom the GSMB functions informed court that the Minister agrees with the GSMB’s legal position as opposed to that of the Governor. The matter was fixed for argument on November 3.