Port City Commission is an auctioneer of the President - Wijeyadasa

Colombo (News 1st); President's Counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the government through the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill is seeking to do no less than what the LTTE attempted to do during the 30 year-long Civil War, which is to establish a separate state.

He pointed out that the bill has made provisions that allow the port city to satisfy the criteria in the Montevideo convention, and as such, this special region could be recognized as a separate state. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC appeared on behalf of Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero in a petition filed challenging the constitutionality of the Port City Economic Commission bill. He pointed out that the commission proposed to be established by the bill is simply an auctioneer of the president tasked with the sale or lease of land in the port city. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe pointed out that the proposed bill would disrupt the entire legal system of the country. He pointed out that if the operation of the Customs Ordinance is suspended, the entry of banned substances and even nuclear weapons cannot be prevented. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC said that this is a threat to National Security and the sovereignty of the nation. Appearing on behalf of the General Secretary of the Bar Association Rajeewa Amarasuriya, Uditha Igalahewa PC pointed out that sans any local governing body, the residents of the port city would be deprived of their franchise. He pointed out that this would be an infringement of Article 3 and Article 4 of the Constitution. He further pointed out that the taxes and levies collected by the Port City Economic Commission are debited to a fund managed by the commission itself and not to the consolidated fund of the country. Igahahewa PC highlighted the fact that this is a violation of constitutional provisions that vest the full control of public finances with the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It was further submitted in court that the relevant parties were not consulted when this act was drafted. Appearing for the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris PC, Ikram Mohamed PC pointed out that the bill does not pose any obstruction for all 7 members of the commission to be foreign nationals who are not citizens of Sri Lanka. In such a situation he questioned as to how much assurance can be given that, these foreigners would work for the National Interests of Sri Lanka.