Gotabaya, respondent in petitions challenging oil tank farm deal

The Supreme Court yesterday granted permission to name former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a respondent in several Fundamental Rights petitions filed against the agreement on the Trincomalee Oil Tank farm, signed with LIOC.President Ranil Wickremasinghe, and the current Cabinet, have also been added as respondents.

Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera and the Secretary of the National Bhikkhu Front Ven. Wakmulle Udhitha Thera, have challenged, in Court, the legality of the Cabinet memorandum that authorised the agreement to jointly develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank farm.

When the case was taken up, yesterday, Attorney-at-Law, Dharshana Weraduwage, appearing for the petitioners, sought permission to personally add Rajapaksa as a respondent as he is no longer the President. The lawyer also obtained permission to name President Ranil Wickremasinghe and the current Cabinet as respondents.

Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare and Shiran Goonaratne, who comprise the two-judge-bench, granted permission to amend the caption of the petitions, and the parties were directed to file objections, if necessary.The petitions will be taken up again on November 11.Among other respondents are former Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Trinco Petroleum Terminal (Pvt.) Ltd, and Lanka IOC PLC.