Garbage at Muthurajawela: SC fixes to mention on 16 July

 By S.S.Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday (12 March) fixed to be mentioned on 16 July the fundamental rights petition against the impugned steps to dump garbage in the Muthurajawela sanctuary.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justices B. P. Aluvihara and Vijith K. Malalgoda extended the Interim Order against dumping in the sanctuary.

35 Petitioners who are residents of the close proximity of Muthurajawela sanctuary cited Colombo Municipal Council, its Commissioner, Urban Development Authority, Central Environment Authority, Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha, Commissioner General of Department of Agrarian Development, Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation, Irrigation Department Director General, Assistant Divisional Secretary, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and the Attorney General as Respondents.Dr Sunil Cooray with Keith de Mel appeared for the Petitioners. Senany Dayaratne appeared for the CMC. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam appeared for the Attorney General.

Petitioners state Muthurajawela is a declared sanctuary and the region supports 192 distinct species of flora and 209 distinct species of fauna and another 102 species of birds.They state it is also a large paddy field amounting to 635 acres and consists of water canals, marsh lands and mango groves amounting to 7,000 acres and the forest.

They allege without considering the protest by the petitioners, the Respondents have taken steps to allow and facilitate the vehicles which carry garbage to enter Muthurajawela Sanctuary without any proper approval or authority to dump garbage with the assistance of 300 members of police and Special Task Force.