New Fortress deal: Three Cabinet Ministers back petitions against govt., make history

By A.J.A. Abeynayaka

Cabinet ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (07) made representations to the Supreme Court in support of the fundamental rights cases filed against the transfer of 40 per cent of government shares of the Yugadanavi Power Station to US-based New Fortress Energy.

They threw their weight behind the petitions, although they have been named respondents as members of the Cabinet.

Attorney-at-law Nilanthi Wijesinghe on behalf New Democratic Front (NDF) General Secretary Nanayakkara, National Freedom Front (NFF)) leader Weerawansa and Pivuthuru Hela Urumaya leader Gammanpila submitted a 58-page report against the agreement between the government and the New Fortress Energy. The report alleges that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa hadn’t submitted a Cabinet memorandum and no discussion took place at the Cabinet. The ministers have also alleged that the agreement was reached in violation of the tender process that had gone underway by that time.

The three ministers have said that the company in question launched in 2018 and lacked expertise in the management of LNG handling at the Yugadanavi power plant and therefore posed a threat to Sri Lanka’s security.

There hasn’t been a previous instance of members of Cabinet moving court against a Cabinet decision.

Among those who have filed fundamental rights petitions are Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Ven. Elle Gunawansa, the JVP and the SJB.