Discussions are underway to transfer the Norochcholai coal power plant to the Chinese company; G.L. Peiris met Sheikh Hasina; Sri Lanka reiterates its concern about the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK; Writ petition to close down the Indian High Commis
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    • February 11-17

    According to reports, discussions are underway to transfer the Norochcholai coal power plant to the Chinese company in lieu of the massive US $ 1350 million loan obtained from that country to construct the project. The project was carried out by China’s C.M.C.R. Company and according to sources the Ceylon Electricity Board had put forward two alternatives to cover up the rising electricity generation cost- to increase energy prices or to transfer the coal project to the Chinese company- instead of settling the loan. 1

    Reports noted that in bid to avert a possible hearing on Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in April this year, External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris held meetings in Bangladesh, which currently holds the Chair of the CMAG. 2

    Reports noted that Sri Lanka reiterated its concern about the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on February 12. 3

    According to reports, two Vice Presidents of International Council of Jurists (ICJ) and Pakistan’s Chief Justice have contradicted the letter issued to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Council President Dr. Adish C. Agrawal approving the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and expressing support to new CJ Mohan Peiris. Two weeks ago, writing to the Sri Lankan President, International Council of Jurists (ICJ) President, Dr. Adish C. Agrawal justified the impeachment of Shirani Bandaranayake and approved the procedure followed. Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry gave wide publicity to this letter with the names of the vice presidents of the ICJ. Responding to situation one of the vice presidents and a British Jurist, Sir Justice Gavin Lightman said that he was never consulted on the statement issued by Mr. Agrawal. Pakistan’s Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has also disassociated himself from the ICJ statement on the impeachment of Dr. Bandaranayake. Another vice president and British jurist, Lord Baron Navnit Dholakia said that he had no connection to the said letter. 4

    In other developments, According to reports, Solai Kannan, Madurai district president of Hindu Makkal Katchi, filed a writ petition to close down the Indian High Commission and Embassy at Sri Lanka and to recall its ambassador as a mark of International protest in the Madurai Bench through his counsel Peter Ramesh Kumar stating that India had voted against Sri Lanka in the International Forum for War Crimes on the genocide committed in the island nation during the Eelam war IV. 5

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