The State Counsels on Thursday (18) apprised the Court of Appeal that the government will repay up to 41 percent of the moneys deposited with the bankrupt Golden Key Credit Card Company which belonged to former Ceylinco Chairman Lalith Kotelawala.

The State Counsel further informed the Court that the cabinet approval has already been granted in this regard. 

   
Earlier, the Finance Minister also gave an assurance to repay the money following a discussion with a group of Golden Key Credit Card Company depositors, last month.

The State Counsel made the observation when the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by the aggrieved depositors of Golden Key Credit Card Company Ltd. was taken up before a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice K. Sripavan. 

The petition was filed on March 23, 2009 by 24 depositors including Dushyanthi Hapugoda, who is President of the All Depositors Association and a new Director of The Golden Key Credit Card Co. Ltd, while CJ Mohan Peiris was appointed to the judge bench from April 2013. 

A total of 30 petitions were filed pertaining to the Golden Key fiasco while the court had initially declared that petition No. 2009/ 191 would be taken up for hearing and that the verdict given on that would apply to the other petitions.