The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights (FR) Petitions that were filed against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and former ministers Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa over Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
The Cabinet of Ministers, the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka, Former Governors of the Central Bank, Professor W.D Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Former Secretary to the treasury S.R Attygala, Former Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundere, Former Finance Minister Ali Sabry P.C., present members of the Monetary Board S.S.W. Kumarasinghe have been named as Respondents.
The petition filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) requests the court to issue an order to conduct an investigation against those responsible for the current economic crisis.
Taking up for consideration the petitions today, the Supreme Court has ordered an investigation to be conducted into key economic decisions that had been taken by the respondents named in the petitions.
The Court also directed that present members of the Monetary Board who served on the Monetary Board during the matters in question, namely Sanjeeva Jayawardena, P.C., and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha be added as Respondents in this Application.
The Court also made the following orders:
- The Auditor General is to conduct an audit and submit a report by the 30th of November, in respect of:
- The decision made by the Monetary Board to set the value of the Sri Lankan rupee at Rs. 203 against the US Dollar and all matters connected thereto.
- The delay in seeking assistance from the IMF and all matters connected thereto.
- All matters relating to the settlement of the sovereign bond of US Dollars 500 million on 18th January 2022, using foreign reserves
- An audit on the loss caused to the Central Bank by such payments.
- The Court also directed that Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, governor of the Central Bank produce copies of all communications and recommendations given to the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Former Finance Ministers Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka, Former Governors of the Central Bank, Professor W.D Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Former Secretary to the treasury S.R Attygala, by the Central Bank on or before the 30th of November 2022.
- The court also directed the Monetary Board to produce copies of all reports given to Former Ministers Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, as per Sections 64 and 68 of the Monetary Law Act, on or before the 30th of November 2022.
The Supreme Court has fixed the case for hearing on the 9th of January 2023. (NewsWire)