Welgama seeks SC order to prevent arrest
SLTB motor spare parts case
The Supreme court yesterday (03) re-fixed to be mentioned on February 8 next year the fundamental rights petitions filed by former Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and the former SLTB Chairman, his nephew Shashi Welgama.
The matter came up before the Bench comprising Justices Priyasath Dep, Upaly Abeyrathne and Nalin Perera.
The petitioners complained against the Finance Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) inquiry into the alleged irregularities pertaining to the procurement and supply of tax exempted motor spare parts to SLTB.
Petitioners are seeking an order from the Court that the collective and collusive acts of he Respondents causes an imminent infringement of the Petitioners fundamental rights to equality and equal protection of the law, and their right that no citizen shall be discriminated against of their political opinion, right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention.
They are asking the court to issue Interim Order preventing their arrest and remand by the Respondents in connection with the MC Colombo Case No. B 348 1/3/15 until the final determination of their petitions.
They cited OIC of the FCID Chief Inspector
They are asking the court to issue Interim Order preventing their arrest and remand by the Respondents in connection with the MC Colombo Case No. B 348 1/3/15 until the final determination of their petitions
Ranasinghe, ASP P.K. Serasinghe, DIG Ravi Waidyalankara, the IGP and the Attorney General as Respondents.
Gamini Marapana PC with Kalinga Indratissa PC, Buddhika Jayasinghe, Navin Marapana and Uchitha Wickramasinghe instructed by Tharanatha Paliyaguruge appeared for the Petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Yohan Abeywickrama and Senior State Counsel Madhava Tennekoon appeared for the Attorney General.
He states the complaint was made on the following allegations - that in March 2011, a committee was established to purchase motor parts for the SLTB; that the said committee called for expression of interest and details from qualified suppliers; that consequent to the expression of interest, the supply of spare parts for the SLTB was awarded to “Steel Impex Industries”; that the Treasury through the Secretary of the Treasury issued a letter granting permission for the said Company to import motor spare parts on a duty free basis: that another Company “Nimbus Automotive”: was requested subsequently out of tender to supply motor spare parts after having been given a similar duty free concession: that both Companies were provided with, warehousing facilities for the storage of motor spare parts without levying or charging any rent for such premises.
Petitioners deny any commitment of the offences referred to in the B Report and maintains the contents therein refer to bare assumptions and false, hypothetical material and complain that the respondents are conspiring and/or conniving to arrest them with a view to having them remanded without bail.