Archbishop of Colombo 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.
