Leasing Hambantota land to China: SC fixes petition to support on 2 Feb

By S. S. Selvanayagam

Supreme yesterday (23) re-fixed for support on 2 February the rights petition challenging the framework agreement with China to dispense 15,000 acres of land for investment in Hambantota for converting debt into equity. 

Petitioner Vasudeva Nanayakkara cited  Prime Minister, Minister of Ports and Shipping and Finance Minister as well as the Members of the Cabinet, Members of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee, State-Owned Corporates of China - namely China Merchants Port and China Communications, the Speaker, Members of the Constitutional Council and the Attorney General as Respondents.

The Petitioner states that no bids/tenders were called from the open market and therefore the recommendation of China Merchants Port Holding Company was not made in accordance with the Procurement Guidelines or the Procurement Manual. 

He states that the said matter was handled without consulting the Sri Lanka Port Authority.

He states that the Finance Ministry Secretary has still not finalised the concession agreement and he fears that the same would be imminently finalised and entered into by the Sri Lankan Government.

The Petitioner laments that the selection/approval of the Chinese Company and the decision to sign a framework agreement on behalf of Sri Lankan Government is arbitrary, capricious, mala fide, illegal and unlawful.

Manohara de Silva PC appeared for the Petitioner.