SC extends Interim Order to prevent garbage dumping in Muthurajawela

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday re-fixed for mention on 27 November the Fundamental Rights petition against the impugned steps to dump garbage in the Muthurajawela sanctuary.

The Bench comprised Justices Eva Wanasundera, Prasanna S. Jayawardena and Murdu N.B. Fernando extended the Interim Order against dumping in the sanctuary.

The 35 Petitioners who are residents in close proximity to the 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. Gamini Marapana PC with Navin Marapana appeared for the Intervenient-Petitioner Malwatta Properties.

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 fields amount to 635 acres and consist of water canals, marsh lands and mango groves amounts to 7,000 acres and the forest.

They allege without considering the protest by the petitioners, the Respondent 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.