A lawyer has filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court seeking an order directing the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to produce before Court all relevant files maintained by the CEB regarding an alleged unsettled electricity bill adding up to Rs. 2.6 million in lieu of providing electricity to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence in Weeraketiya.

The petitioner Vijitha Kumara, an Attorney-at-law representing the Polonnaruwa Bar Association filed this petition naming the CEB, CEB Chairman, Auditor General,  Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, MP Namal Rajapaksa, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP D.V. Chanaka and several others as respondents.

The petitioner is further seeking an order directing the Auditor General to provide a comprehensive audit report into providing electricity by the CEB during the period September 12, 2019 to September 15, 2019 to the Weeraketiya residence. The petitioner states that JVP’s former Provincial Council member Nalin Hewage publicly disclosed that pursuant to a right to information request, it has been revealed that a sum of Rs. 2,682,246.57 was due and outstanding for a wedding held at the private residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2019.

The petitioner said it is public knowledge that Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa’s wedding was held on or about September 12, 2019 and a series of receptions were held at the Weeraketiya residence to celebrate the said momentous occasion. The petitioner states that being a public spirited individual, he became curious as to how Namal Rajapaksa’s wedding was funded by public funds.

This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-Law Thamila Dinushi Perera and to be supported by Senior Counsel Thishya Weragoda. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)