CA DIRECTS AG TO CHECK ON THE CURRENT SITUATION

The Court of Appeal yesterday directed the Attorney General to check the current situation at Muthurajawela wetlands and report it to the Court on March 09. A writ request has been recorded in the Court of Appeal on January 26 by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and its Executive Director Hemantha Withanage, Ranjith Sisira Kumara challenging the illegal landfills and dumping of garbage in the Muthurajawela wetlands.

A few industrial facilities have been given EPL despite the fact that there could have been no legitimate checking framework in the spot

In the petition, the petitioners called attention to the fact that few factories operating near the wetland, dispose their harmful material and effluents into the protected zones.

It was additionally referenced that a few industrial facilities have been given Environmental Protection Licenses (EPL) despite the fact that there could have been no legitimate checking framework in the spot.

The petitioners requested the Court of Appeal to issue a restraining order, from filling up the Muthurajawela wetland and dumping garbage.

They additionally mentioned to explain the legitimate status and delineate the limits of the Sanctuary, Environmental Protection Area and the wetland through a joint overview directed by the respondents and local administrators.

Central Environmental Authority, Minister of Environment, Minister of Wild Life and Forest Conservation and nine others, were named as respondents to the petition.