Petition against Mega Cabinet: AG to file a report on Cabinet and State Ministerial portfolios

• Petition fixed for support on January 27

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Supreme Court yesterday permitted the Attorney General to file a report about the Cabinet and State Ministerial portfolios of the incumbent government in connection with a Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging the legality of the Cabinet. 

An engineer had filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the incumbent Cabinet alleging it has reached its threshold of 30 cabinet of Ministers, as mandated in Article 47 (1)(a) of the Constitution.  

When the petition came before Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Mahinda Samayawardena, Additional Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva appearing for the Attorney General sought the Court’s permission to file a report regarding the portfolios of Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers. The Additional Solicitor General informed the court that several Cabinet and State Ministerial portfolios have been abolished so far and gave an undertaking to file a report in this regard within two weeks.   Accordingly, this petition was fixed for support on January 27.  

The Secretary of the Professionals National Front of Sri Lanka (PNF) G. Kapila Renuka Perera, an engineer by profession had filed this petition through Attorney-at-Law Dharshana Weraduwage.

The petitioner is seeking an Interim Order staying the President, Prime Minister and 32 other respondents from continuing to function as Cabinet Ministers.   The petitioner said he had noticed that there are budget allocations for over 30 Cabinet Ministers and over 40 State ministers, which is a clear violation of Article 47(1) (a) (b) of the Constitution.

•  The petition was fixed for support on January 27