JVP files case against P-TOMS
BY WASANTHA Ramanayake
A JVP Provincial Councillor filed an action in the Colombo District
Court yesterday seeking to enjoin the allocation and utilisation of
State's funds for the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TMOS).
He also sought Court to declare that the agreement was illegal and
had no force in law.
Plaintiff Vass Gunawardane cited Relief, Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction Ministry Secretary M. S. Jayasinghe, S. Ranjan, c/o Tamil
Selvan, Peace Secretary, Kilinochchi and the Attorney General as
defendants.
The petitioner stated that he was a victim of the December 26 tsunami
and would be affected by the Post-Tsunami Operational Management
Agreement since it was specially concerned with the particular area,
i.e. North and East neglecting other areas like Colombo, Kalutara, Galle,
Matara and Hambantota districts that had also been affected by the
disaster thus violating international donors expectations that the funds
would be distributed equally among those affected, as well as article 12
(1) of the Constitution.
The petitioner argued that there was uncertainty as to who manage the
fund established under the agreement and how it would be utilised.
The petitioner stated that the first defendant had not been
authorised to sign the agreement nor did the subject come under his
purview in terms of the Constitution.
He also stated that signing such an agreement with an organisation
that was fighting for a separate State within the country was also in
violation of the Constitution.
The petitioner stated that there was no guarantee that the LTTE would
not use the funds for illegal/anti-government activities.
Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala filed the application. |