Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Elle Gunawansa Thera file FR

Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and  Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order staying the operation of all agreements entered between the Government of Sri Lanka and New Fortress Energy Inc in relation to the sale of 40% of the shares of the West Coast Power (Private) Limited held by the Government of Sri Lanka to a US company.

The petitioners had named Cabinet of Ministers, New Fortress Energy Inc, West Coast Power (Private) Limited, Attorney General and several others as respondents in the petition.

The petitioners said signing of a “Definitive Agreement” on 21st September 2021 by between the Government of Sri 
Lanka and the New Fortress Energy Inc is contrary to the law, arbitrary and infringement of their Fundamental Rights 
guaranteed under Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

The petitioners alleged that the respondents have failed to give due consideration to the fact that the acceptance of the 53rd Respondent’s New Fortress Energy Inc unsolicited proposal to purchase 40% of the shares in the West Coast Power (Private) Limited is contrary to the National Energy Policy and Strategies (2019).

The petitioners are further seeking an interim order staying the operation of all 
agreements entered into by and between the Government of Sri Lanka and New Fortress Energy Inc in relation to the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas or the deployment of a FSRU or construction of a R-LNG 
Pipeline by the New Fortress Energy Inc to the Government of Sri Lanka. 

This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-law Manjula Balasooriya.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)