CA issues Notice on WCD and Chilaw Bishop

Unregulated development in Wilpattu

Court of Appeal on Tuesday issued notices on Department of Wildlife Conservation, Bishop of Chilaw and two others returnable for March 6.

Bench comprising Justices P.padman Surasena (President/ca) and Shiran Gooneratne issued notices subsequent to a Writ Petition lamenting of the alleged clearing and disturbance caused to Wilpattu National Park (WNP) and unregulated development activities as well as human intrusion for the festivities of a small jungle Catholic shrine in the Pallekandal/pomparippu area of the WNP.

Public Interest Litigant voluntary bodies Environmental Foundation and Wildlife & Nature Protection Society of SL blame that these activities are still continuing inside WNP contrary to law and procedure with the knowledge and/or permission and/or tacit approval of Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.g.suriyabandara and Minister of Sustainable Development & Wildlife Gamini Jayawickrama Perera who were cited as respondents.

Petitioners state during the war period, this chapel went into disuse and the building fell into disrepair, with the roof caving in and they were unable to trace any accurate records of the said church conducting and/or engaging in religious activities in regular manner until the recent past and it was never operated in greater scale rather than the said annual feast. expansion of festive activity relating to the church has been rapidly increasing due to the easy unregulated access to WNP, after the construction of the alleged unauthorized/illegal road cutting across the National Park in contravention of Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance with the intervention of a politician who has vested interest in the area.

They point out these are areas previously occupied by herds of elephants, which traditionally grazed on the grasslands of Pomparippu Plain within the National Park which is among the top national parks world renowned for its leopard population with nearly 60 lakes. They allege the increase in the unlawful/unregulated activities under the guise of traditional practice, usage and custom are rapidly increased mostly proclaiming religious festivities inside a National Park is mostly due to nontransparent practices.