SC informs Ministry Secretary to submit report on streamlining fuel distribution

The Supreme Court yesterday informed the Energy Secretary Ministry to submit a progress report to Court on August 5 on the plan including actions to be taken to streamline fuel distribution.

The direction was issued when the two Fundamental Rights petitions filed by the Sri Lanka Bar Association seeking an order to the Council of Ministers to prepare an urgent programme to provide relief so that the people who are affected by the current economic crisis can get essential materials and services without interruption and issue an order to the government to prepare long-term and short-term solutions to the current economic crisis, were taken up before the Supreme Court yesterday.

The petitions were taken up before the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Mahinda Samayawardena and Arjuna Obeyesekera.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appearing on behalf of the Attorney General stated that according to a recent order by the Supreme Court, a meeting was arranged between the officials including the Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and the Sri Lanka Bar Association on July 18.

President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa appearing for the Sri Lanka Bar Association stated that his association presented a series of proposals to the Energy Ministry that included steps to be taken to streamline fuel distribution. He said that many District Secretaries took part in that meeting.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle said that the Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and officials are studying the steps to be taken to implement the measures contained in the series of proposals submitted by the Sri Lanka Bar Association to the Ministry of Energy, including measures to be taken to streamline fuel distribution.After considering the facts, the court informed the stakeholders including the Secretary of the Ministry of Energy to submit a report containing the progress in this regard on August 5.

These Fundamental Rights petitions have also demanded that the Cabinet be ordered to formulate a short-term national policy to provide immediate relief to the people and businessmen who are facing the economic crisis.The petition has requested Court to declare that the basic human rights of the people of Sri Lanka are being violated due to this economic crisis. In addition, it has been further requested to issue an order to the Council of Ministers to prepare a policy program to increase local agriculture, dairy production and animal products.

These two petitions were filed by the Sri Lanka Bar Association’s President President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, its Vice President Anura Maddegoda PC, Secretary Attorney Rajiva Amarasuriya, Treasurer Attorney Rajinda Perera, Deputy Secretary Attorney Pasindu Silva through Attorney-at-Law G.G. Arulpragasam.

The Attorney General, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and members of the Cabinet Ministers, the Treasury Secretary, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, its Finance Board, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Petroleum Corporation, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and 42 others were cited as the respondents in the petition.

On the instructions of Attorney G. G. Arulpragasam, President’s Counsel Dr. K. Kanageeswaran, President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, Attorney Niranjan G. Arulpragasam appeared for the petitioners.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.

 

by dailynews sri lanka

, Security, ,

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post