A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking annulment of the Cabinet decision taken to enter into any long-term agreements with selected Petroleum Companies to allow import, sell, supply or distribute Petroleum in Sri Lanka as envisaged.
The petition was filed by Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, its President Chethiya Bandara Ekanayake, and its Secretary Bandara Arambekumbura.
The petition has cited 28 respondents including 19 Cabinet Ministers including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunewardena, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited and the Attorney General as the respondents.
The petition seeks an order from the Court to quash the cabinet decision to introduce new Petroleum companies to import, sale, supply and distribution of Petroleum and Petroleum products.
The petition seeks from the court to grant the Petitioners leave to proceed with this Application under Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution in the first instance.
The petition further seek an interim order to the respondents from issuing any new license, permit or authorization to any person or company to import, export, sell, supply and distribute Petrol, Diesel, kerosene and Furnace oil to Sri Lanka in contravention of Section 5B of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Act, until the final determination of the petition.