Two-stroke report to Cabinet soon

Wasantha Ramanayake

COLOMBO: The draft report by the expert committee on the ban on the importation of two-stroke three wheelers and parts would be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers, the Attorney-General informed Supreme Court, when the rights application challenging the Cabinet decision banning such importation was taken up yesterday.

Deputy Solicitor-General Bimba Thilakarathne Jayasinghe on behalf of the Attorney-General submitted that the draft report dated February 19 would be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers finally.

The Court also permitted to the parties to submit their material and make representation to the Ministry prior to the draft report be presented to the Cabinet.

The Court refused to allow an application for intervention by the Public Interest Law Foundation, an environment group on the basis that the Leave to Proceed had not been granted.

However, Court considering the status of the group, permitted the group to present their material too to the Ministry for its consideration on equal terms. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC and Justice Nimal Dissanayake and Justice Jagath Balapatabendi.

The petitioners, the All Island Three Wheeler Drivers’ Welfare Association and its secretary stated that the Cabinet of Ministers had taken the decision dated January 17 to ban the importation of two-stroke three wheelers and spare parts from January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2011. The counsel submitted that the decision imminently violate his clients’ rights.

M. A. Sumanthriran with Viran Corea and Suresh Fernando appeared for the petitioners.

President’s Counsel K. Kanag Ishwaran appeared for David Pieris Motor Company Ltd.

Deputy Solicitor-General Bimba Thilakarathne Jayasinghe appeared for the respondents.

The case was put off for July 16.