Bid to alter BOI organisational structure: Writ petition withdrawn after amicable settlement

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the purported alteration of the organisational structure of the Board of Investment (BOI) by the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) was withdrawn after the parties involved in the dispute reached a settlement.

The writ petition was filed by JSS President Heelle Liyanarachchige Piyatissa and was presented before Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz.

Piyatissa cited BOI Director General Duminda Ariyasinghe, Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry Secretary Chandanie Wijeywardana, State Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe, the BOI, its Chairman Upul Jayasuriya and members as respondents.

Waruna Senatheera with Irfan Batcha and A.A. Thilakarthne appeared for JSS. Farman Cassim appeared for Minister Senasinghe. Deputy Solicitor General Susantha Balapatabendi appeared for the other respondents.

The JSS President challenged the decisions and directives of the BOI Director General and the Ministry Secretary as to the alteration of the BOI’s organisational structure in an allegedly lackadaisical manner with the authority of State Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade.

He maintained that the power to make such decisions was firmly vested with the BOI Chairman and the organisation’s members.