Govt. to revoke Gazette altering boundaries of Wedithalathive Nature Reserve

Thursday, 31 July 2025 05:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Move follows Supreme Court intervention

The Government, through the Attorney General, has informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it has decided to revoke Extraordinary Gazette No. 2383/05 dated 6 May 2024, which altered the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, effectively removing a part of the Nature Reserve from its protected status.

Being concerned with the said Gazette, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) filed a Fundamental Rights application on 5 June 2024 in the Supreme Court. The application challenged the said Gazette on grounds of environmental harm and procedural irregularity, emphasising the ecological importance of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, particularly its mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds, which are crucial for biodiversity and support the socio-economic wellbeing of local communities.

The Supreme Court on 27 June 2024 issued an interim order staying the operation and validity of the Gazette, and directed the Minister and all Respondents to maintain the status quo.

The position of the Petitioner was that the action taken by the Minister lacked transparency and due process, raising serious concerns about its legality and impact on conservation.

When the matter was taken up in Supreme Court on Tuesday, the Additional Solicitor General informed the Court that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to revoke the said Gazette and the Environment Minister is now in the process of issuing a new Gazette to rescind the Gazette No. 2383/05 dated 6 May 2024.

The case has been re-fixed for 10 October 2025 to confirm the publication of the Gazette cancelling the imputed Gazette No. 2383/05 dated 6 May 2024.

The WNPS is represented by President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, along with Attorneys-at-Law Dilumi de Alwis, Revan Weerasinghe, and Rukshan Senadheera, instructed by S.W. Amila Kumara.

This development marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s legal and environmental landscape, reaffirming the vital role of the judiciary and public interest litigation in defending protected areas and promoting Government accountability in environmental governance.

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