At a fiery press conference held at the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya headquarters, former MP and lawyer Udaya Gammanpila dropped a political bombshell: Indian nationals and even Sri Lankans working on Indo-Lanka projects are allegedly immune from prosecution under recent bilateral agreements.
Referring to what he called two of the “seven fake agreements” signed between Sri Lanka and India, Gammanpila claimed that Article 7.2 (viii) of the tripartite agreement on the oil pipeline and storage tanks grants sweeping legal immunity to Indian workers, the Indian government, and any local collaborators. He added that a similar clause exists under Article 7 of the power line agreement.
“This kind of immunity currently applies only to the President of Sri Lanka. And now it’s being extended to foreigners,” he said.
The immunity allegedly covers everything from lawsuits related to environmental damage to the rights of dismissed employees. Gammanpila warned that no one would be held accountable if these projects harm communities or ecosystems.
He specifically pointed to the Adani wind power project in Mannar, where local environmentalists were able to file legal action. Under the new agreements, he claims such lawsuits would be impossible. Even more concerning, according to Gammanpila, is that there is no mention of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in either agreement.
He argued that these clauses violate Article 12 (i) of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which guarantees that all citizens are equal before the law—a right so fundamental, it cannot be amended even by referendum.
“This isn’t just a breach of sovereignty,” Gammanpila declared, “it’s a direct assault on the constitutional rights of our people.”
He called for urgent public scrutiny and legal challenge, warning that these agreements set a dangerous precedent where foreign corporations could operate above Sri Lankan law, while ordinary citizens are left powerless in their own land.
The key words are “done in good faith for the successful implementation of the projects”.
This man is a serial demagogue.
As the net closes in on him for his prior misdeeds and self-aggrandisement when holding public office, he becomes ever more vocal in the vain hope that this will safeguard him from his eventual political demise.