The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with two Fundamental Rights petitions filed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), concerning the current economic crisis in the country
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Gamini Amarasekara, Justice Shiran Goonaratne and Justice KumuduniWickramasinghe granted leave to proceed with the matter in terms of Articles 11, 12(1), 13(4), 14(1)(g) (h) and 14A of the constitution of Sri Lanka.
The Supreme Court further issued notices on the respondents, including the Cabinet of Ministers, returnable on April 8.
The BASL seeks the court’s intervention to issue directives to the Cabinet of Ministers to immediately consult all the relevant stakeholders and independent experts to formulate and implement policies in this respect. The BASL also seek the court’s involvement to provide uninterrupted access and grant concessions concerning the prices of essential goods and services to the people, including LP gas, fuel, electricity, milk powder, medicines and food.
These petitioners, in this case, are the President of the BASL Saliya Pieris PC, Deputy President Anura Meddegoda PC, Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya, Treasurer Rajindh Perera and Assistant Secretary Pasindu Silva.
The Petitions state that the people are witnessing long queues for essential supplies, mass protests and public unrest due to acute shortages and the sharp increase in the cost of goods and services, including food, fuel and travel costs. The Petitioners are complaining that Sri Lanka is currently facing an unprecedented economic and financial crisis resulting in acute shortages of fuel, electricity, gas, food, milk powder and medicines.
The Petitioners stated that they were compelled to come before the court due to the severe shortages in essential goods and services that are considered vital for the survival and existence of the citizens in the country with whom are guaranteed the fundamental right to equality, equal protection of the law and the right to life under the Constitution.
The petitioners have made the Attorney General, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries to several Ministries, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation as Respondents.