The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) was yesterday ordered to submit an affidavit to the Supreme Court (SC) on August 31 containing further proposals to resolve the fuel crisis.The Attorney General was also informed to further focus on streamlining the fuel distribution activities through the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) for farmers, industrialists and other sectors.
After considering the submission made by the counsels representing the Sri Lanka Bar Association, made an order that it would be better if the distribution of fuel should be done through a committee consisting of the district secretary to the farmers, industrialists, factories, etc., by the Sri Lanka Transport Board.
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 program 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 and Arjuna Obeysekera.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed the court that the majority of the proposals made by the Sri Lanka Bar Association regarding fuel distribution have already been implemented, adding that an affidavit stating that has also been submitted to the court. President’s Counsels Uditha Igalahewa and Attorney-at-Law Suren Gnanaraj appearing for the Sri Lanka Bar Association stated that it is necessary to further streamline the distribution of fuel through the SLTB. They pointed out that fuel is being distributed to several sectors including farmers and industrialists through the SLTB and pointed out that it would be more appropriate to do the work through a committee consisting of the district secretary.
Justice Vijith Malalgoda pointed out that those activities should be more formalized.
The bench informed the Additional Solicitor General to pay attention to the matter and ordered the Sri Lanka Bar Association to submit an affidavit to the court on August 31 containing further proposals to resolve the crisis.
The petitions will be taken up again on August 31.
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 the 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 President Counsel Anura Maddegoda, Secretary Attorney-at-Law Rajiva Amarasuriya, Treasurer Attorney-at-Law Rajinda Perera, Deputy Secretary Attorney-at-Law Pasindu Silva through Attorney-at-Law G.G. Arul Pragasam.
The Attorney General, 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-at-Law G. G. Arul Pragasam, President’s Counsel Dr. K. Kanageeswaran, President’s President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, Attorney-at-Law Niranjan G. Arul Pragasam appeared for the petitioners.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.
by dailynews sri lanka
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