A fundamental rights petition filed by former National Hela Urumaya MP Ven.Omalpe Sobitha Thera against the awarding of the tender for the supply of coal to the Lak Wijaya Power Plant to a Dubai company was yesterday withdrawn before the Supreme Court.
President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena appearing for the Thera informed court that the petition will no longer be maintained due to the government’s action to cancel the coal tender.
Accordingly, he sought from Court that the withdrawal of the petition and it was allowed by the Bench.
The petition has cited 49 respondents including Lanka Coal Company, the Cabinet, members of the Special Procurement Committee and members of the Technology Evaluation Committee as well as “Dubai Black Sand Commodities”49.
Lanka Coal company has decided to offer 4.5 million metric tons of coal to Lak Wijaya Power Plant and it has been decided to offer it to Black Sand Commodities Company of Dubai.
The petition says that the petitioner has given the tender to this company by changing the tender clauses, acting contrary to the entire procurement process, indicating that the company is not a registered coal supplier.
The petition has indicated that the government will incur a loss of over US$ 500 million due to the awarding of the tender related to the company, which is not a registered coal supplier.
Therefore, the petitioner sought from the court to call the amendments and recommendations related to the said tender process and order the authorities to conduct a proper investigation.
The petition has sought a declaration that the fundamental rights of the citizens including themselves have been violated due to the process that took place in awarding the tender.
President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena appeared for the petitioners on the advice of attorney Sanath Wijewardena.
by dailynews sri lanka
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