Appeal Court grants interim order, halting government’s Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC divestiture process until 12 March

By A.J.A. Abeynayake

The Court of Appeal, on Wednesday (28), issued an interim order, temporarily preventing the government from proceeding with the divestiture process of the Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC until 12 March.

This decision follows a writ petition filed by Lyca Leasing Holding Limited and HAIMS International Limited challenging the rejection of their application for prequalification in the Request for Qualification (RFQ) related to the strategic divestiture of 51.34 percent of Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC.

President’s Counsel Kuvera De Zoysa, representing the petitioners, presented oral submissions, leading to Court of Appeal Justice D. N. Samarakoon issuing notices to the respondents, returnable for 12 March. The Court of Appeal Registrar has been directed to promptly issue notices and the interim order to the respondents through ordinary means, with communication via telephone and fax if the petitioners cover the charges.

The respondents include Minister of Finance Ranil Wickremesinghe, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, and members of the special Cabinet-appointed negotiating committee responsible for selecting pre-qualified bidders for the strategic divestiture of 51.34% shares of Lanka Hospitals PLC, among others.

Kuvera De Zoysa, PC, along with Raslka Dissanayake, Sajana de Zoysa, Dinusha Pathirana, and Shablr Huzalr, instructed by Sanath Wijewardane, appeared on behalf of the petitioners.