The Supreme Court today (01 Sept) granted permission to proceed with a fundamental rights petition filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, several former Cabinet members, and other respondents.
The petition claims that during the previous government’s tenure, phosphate stocks extracted from the Eppawala deposit were exported to several favoured companies at prices significantly lower than the approved market rates, constituting a violation of fundamental human rights.
The petition was submitted by the Center for Environmental Justice.
Thirty-two respondents were named, including former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Cabinet members, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, its Director General, and the Attorney General.
The petition was reviewed today by a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando, and Sampath Abeykoon.
Appearing for the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare argued that Lanka Phosphate Ltd had acquired phosphate stocks in violation of a Supreme Court directive issued in the year 2000 regarding the Eppawala deposit.
He further alleged that phosphate was exported to several favoured companies at prices far below the global market rate per metric ton.
According to the petition, this practice resulted in significant financial losses to both the government and the general public.
The lawyer also revealed that former Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who oversaw the subject at the time, had exerted pressure on state institutions, including the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, to issue the necessary licenses for phosphate release.
After reviewing the submissions, the Supreme Court bench scheduled the petition to be heard on March 9, 2026. (Newswire)