Another FR petition filed challenging Trinco oil tank deal

Another Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed seeking to revoke the agreement signed with India to develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.

The petition was lodged before Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thera and Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera.

A total of 47 parties including the Attorney General on behalf of the President, the Cabinet of Ministers including Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and its chairman, the Trinco Petroleum Terminal Pvt. Ltd., the Auditor General, Lanka IOC and the Defence Secretary have been named as its respondents.

The petitioners said the energy minister, addressing a media briefing held on January 04, had announced a decision taken by the Cabinet to jointly develop the oil tank farm with Lanka IOC.

They pointed out that, pursuant to the Constitution, the Cabinet does not have the authority to take such decision and that the manner in which the agreement was inked with India is unlawful.

Accordingly, the petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to issue an order to revoke this ‘arbitrary’ agreement as well as the decision taken by the Cabinet.

He has also called for an investigation into the disputed decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The petitioner also wants this petition to be taken up before a special bench of the Supreme Court in terms of Article 132(3) of the Constitution.

Sri Lanka and India had inked the agreement in question last evening (January 06).

Sri Lanka’s Treasury Secretary, the Commissioner-General of Lands, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka ICO and the subsidiary company Trinco Petroleum Terminal Pvt. Ltd are among the signatories of the deal, Ada Derana learns.

On January 07, the Secretary of National National Bhikkhu Front, Ven. Wakmulle Uditha Thera also filed an FR petition challenging the Trincomalee oil tank farm deal.