Treasury Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe told The Sunday Times FT that he has followed Supreme Court instructions to the letter and on Tuesday filed a motion in court saying he took prompt action to obtain the approval of the Finance Minister to grant the duty waiver on fuel in line with the ruling.
Mr Abeysinghe has been contemplating retiring from the post, in which he is on extension, as the cabinet had repeatedly deferred a decision on reducing petrol prices. Finance Ministry sources said the Secretary was under severe pressure as the onus was on him, as the government representative in court, to carry out the order.
The Cabinet met on Tuesday evening and unanimously decided to make an in-depth study on the Court ruling in consultation with the Attorney General, informed sources said. |
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