Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Tuesday, 19 November 2024 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In an action filed by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) bearing case no. SCFR 154/2024 filed on 5 June 2024, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka granted an interim order staying a decision made by the Government to reduce the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, as outlined in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2383/05 dated 6 May 2024.
When this matter was taken up again on 12 November 2024, the Supreme Court extended the said interim order until the next date of hearing of the matter, which was fixed for 29 July 2025.
In terms of the petition filed, the WNPS highlighted the ecological importance of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, and the importance of mangroves, salt marshes, and sea-grasses that support a number of species and help purify the air through carbon sequestration. It is the position of the Society that the decision to degazette part of the Nature Reserve was a decision that would be harmful to the environment, would threaten conservation efforts, and was conducted without proper transparency or due process.
The WNPS, founded in 1894, stands as the oldest environmental organisation in Sri Lanka as well as one of the oldest conservation societies in the world. Over its long history, the WNPS has been instrumental in advocating for the protection of Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity and natural
habitats.
Through legal action, research, and public awareness campaigns, the WNPS tirelessly works to combat threats to the environment. The Society has been at the forefront of protecting critical ecosystems like the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, emphasising the need to preserve habitats that are not only valuable for wildlife but also crucial for human well-being and climate resilience.
President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, with Attorneys-at-Law Dilumi de Alwis, Revan Weerasinghe, and Rukshan Senadheera, instructed by S.W. Amila Kumara, appeared on behalf of the WNPS before the Supreme Court.
