A fundamental rights petition was filed by the President of the Inter Company Employees Union and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) member Wasantha Samarasinghe and five others before the Supreme Court yesterday against the attempts by the Government to restructure domestic debt.

The petition filed against 46 respondents consisting of State officials requested the court to issue an order that would prevent the curtailment of loans obtained by the Government from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) in the proposed local debt restructuring endeavours intended to be undertaken by the Government. 

Among the 46 respondents named in the petition was the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Officials of the EPF and ETF. Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court premises, Watagala said part of the funds obtained from the EPF and thereafter invested by the Government is now to be cut down under its plans to restructure domestic debt. “This will affect both government and private sector employees. This move violates the 14 (1) (g) provision in our constitution,” he claimed. The Counsel said therefore the petitioner is requesting the court to issue an order preventing the Government from cutting down its loans obtained from the funds.

DDR before Cabinet tomorrow