MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara has filed a Fundamental Rights petition seeking an order to quash the Framework Agreement entered into by the Government of Sri Lanka with two Chinese companies.
When the case was taken up for inquiry, the Attorney General yesterday raised preliminary objections against a the FR petition.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam appearing for the Sri Lanka Port Authority informed Court that Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) pertaining to the Hambantota harbour had been signed on three occasions in 2007, 2012 and 2014.
ASG Rajaratnam informed Court that these agreements had been signed with Chinese companies , while the petitioner Vasudeva Nanayakkara was functioning as a Cabinet Minister and alleged that the petitioner has not disclosed the facts of the case.
“The first and second phases of the Hambantota project were signed in 2012 and 2014. This is a continuous and uninterrupted process from 2007. The petitioner has concealed this fact through his petition and he was a member of the Cabinet at the time the Cabinet Paper was presented,” Rajaratnam added.
He further informed Court that the final agreement between the Chinese companies and Government of Sri Lanka is yet to be finalised and thereby the petition cannot be maintained.
The Attorney General moved Court that the petitioner be dismissed for non-disclosure of the material facts of the petition arguing that the petitioner does not have locus standi to invoke the Court’s jurisdiction. The petition will be taken up for support on May 29.
