Court rules deforestation of Kallaru forest near Wilpattu and settlement illegal

• MP Rishad Bathiudeen ordered to reforest the cleared area at his own expense

The Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that clearing the Kallaru reserve forest near the Wilpattu forest reserve and constructing settlements in the cleared area was illegal.

The Court of Appeal today pronounced the verdict after hearing a petition filed by the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ). The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Janak de Silva and Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne made this ruling in pursuant to a writ petition filed by the CEJ.

The Court of Appeal also ordered former Minister and Wanni District Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who was named as a respondent in the petition, to plant trees at his own expense to reforest the forest area cleared for settlements.

In addition, the court directed the respondents to take steps to pay the due fees to the petitioners.

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, the Central Environmental Authority and the Forest Conservation Department have been named as respondents in the petition.

The petitioner, CEJ stated that a great deal of environmental damage has been done by the clearing of 2388 acres of the Maraichukkaddi-Karadikkuli (Kallaru) Forest Reserve situated at the Northern boundary of the Wilpattu National Park and ensuing unauthorized construction.

Therefore, the CEJ had filed the petition seeking a restraining order to prevent further clearance and construction in the reserved forest area.

Although the verdict in this case was scheduled to be announced in August 2019, Judge Mahinda Samayawardena, who heard the case, refused to pronounce the verdict and the new bench decided to reconsider the petition from the beginning.