CA stays construction of elevated expressway through Thalangama wetland

• Writs filed against construction of highway over ecologically rich Thalangama Tank
• CA issued notice on respondents returnable on 30 March

The Court of Appeal on Monday issued a stay order putting on hold the construction of the four-lane elevated expressway through Thalangama Wetlands.

The Order was issued after considering two writ petitions challenging the legality of the Gazette notification permitting its construction over the RAMSER accredited wetland.

Court of Appeal Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna issued notices on the respondents, returnable on 30 March.

The Petitioner argued that the proposed  elevated expressway cuts through an Environmental Protected Area and it will have a devastating impact on the environment.

One of the Petitioners, R.M. Suwandaratna, a paddy farmer living near the vicinity of the Thalangama Tank contended it was the main source of water for the paddy fields in the area and 175 families were dependent on paddy farming.

He stated that Colombo had eight wetlands, namely Baddegana, Diyasauru, Heen Ela, Kolonnawa, Kotte, Maddinnagoda, Mulleriyawa and Thalangama wetland and Colombo had been declared as South Asia’s sole wetland city during the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Dubai in 2018.

The Thalangama wetlands support endangered plant species and animals. The area is also of historical significance. The decision to build an elevated four lane expressway across a protected wetland was thus an environmental crime, the Petitioner claimed.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Central Environmental Authority, Road Development Authority, Highway Minister Johnston Fernando, Department of Wildlife Conservation Director-General Chandana Sooriyabandara and several others have been cited as respondents.

Saliya Pieris PC, M.A. Sumanthiran, Pulasthi Hewamanna and Ermiza Tegal appeared for the petitioners.