The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has terminated the case filed challenging the illegal opening of roads within the Wilpattu National Park as public thoroughfares, ruling in favour of the petitioners and ending a 15-year-long trial.
A petition was filed by Environmental Foundation Ltd, together with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, the Wilderness and Protected Areas Foundation, and environmentalist Thilak Kariyawasam, stating that the unauthorised roads were a clear violation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
According to Environmental Foundation Ltd, on Tuesday (07 May), the State’s undertakings were formally recorded before the Supreme Court, after which the case was terminated, bringing a nearly 15-year legal struggle to a successful close.
In a statement, the Environmental Conservation Organisation said that Deputy Solicitor General Dr. Avanti Perera recorded the following statements in the Supreme Court:
- Public “through traffic” across the park will not be permitted.
- Entry into the park is restricted to members of the armed forces and police performing lawful duties. All other entries must comply with the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
- There is no objection to the road being maintained as a gravel road, with any necessary repairs carried out in that form.
The organisation further said that the case sets a powerful precedent that Sri Lanka’s protected areas cannot be compromised for unauthorised development and that it reaffirms that environmental laws must be upheld in all national planning and decision-making processes.
The Wilpattu National Park is Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national park, renowned for its unique biodiversity and archaeological significance. It features a unique network of natural lakes (villus), diverse salinity levels, and habitats that support a rich array of wildlife, including leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and countless migratory and resident bird species. Its ecological significance earned it the Ramsar Wetland status in 2013. (Newswire)
