Supreme Court directs President to takeover Petroleum Ministry
The Supreme Court today (Nov. 28th) directed President Mahinda Rajapaksa to takeover the Petroleum Ministry from Minister A. H. M. Fowzie and to consider appointing another minister.
The SC also ordered the immediate suspension of Asantha de Mel as chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva considered petitions filed by chief incumbent of Nalandarama Vihara, Nugegoda Ven. Theeniyawala Palitha Thera, Laugfs Gas chairman W.K.L. Wegodapitiya, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake and legal coordinator of 'Corruption Watch' attorney Ravi Jayawardena.
The petitioners claimed their fundamental rights have been violated due to the non-reduction of local fuel prices in line with world market prices.
The SC directed the CPC to suspend controversial hedging payments to banks until a probe by the finance board of Central Bank into the matter is over.
The court also ordered the Treasury to submit a report within a week on the possibility of reducing local fuel prices.
The SC blamed authorities for having appointed an unqualified person, who had even not passed the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination to a responsible position like the CPC chairmanship, and said the ministers who had protected such a person should be exposed.
