Yugadanavi power plant cases fixed for further hearing

The further hearing into several Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the agreements on Yugadanavi power plant was yesterday fixed for further hearing on January 12 by the Supreme Court.

President's Counsel Uditha Egalahewa appearing for Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Minister Udaya Gammanpila denied the Attorney General's claims that two cabinet of Ministers tendered affidavits contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

Egalahewa argued that his clients have not violated the collective responsibility of cabinet and said they always acted in a manner protecting the provisions of the constitution.

Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam appearing for Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers had earlier raised preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of the petitions.

Supreme Court five-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya fixed the petitions for further hearing for Wednesday (12).

Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) former Parliamentarians Sunil Handunneththi and Wasantha Samarasinghe, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera have already filed Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the agreements entered between the Government of Sri Lanka and New Fortress Energy Inc in relation to the sale of 40% of the shares of Yugadanavi power plant in Kerawalapitiya to a US company.

The petitioners had named Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Cabinet of Ministers, New Fortress Energy Inc, West Coast Power (Private) Limited, Ceylon Electricity Board, Attorney General and several others as respondents in the petition.

The petitioners said on 7th of July 2021, the framework agreement was signed between the government of Sri Lanka and New Fortress Energy Inc for the disposal of 40% of the total shares held at West Coast Power (Private) Limited by Yugadanavi (Pvt) Ltd.

The petitioners further said agreements had been further entered for the execution of the Terminal Project which includes Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), Mooring system and the Pipelines, and the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to West Coast Power (Pvt) Ltd.

The Petitioners state that to the best of their knowledge, the Share Sales and Purchase Agreement (SSPA) pertaining to the sale of 40% of the shares in West Coast Power (Pvt) Ltd. and the Gas Supply Agreements have not been placed before the Cabinet of Ministers to date.

The Petitioners state that bundling the contracts for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, construction of pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply in a single unsolicited proposal and awarding them to a foreign-based company, without following a transparent procedure is an enormous threat to the national energy security.

They further said the proposal to purchase 40% of the shares in the West Coast Power (Private) Limited is contrary to the National Energy Policy and Strategies. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)