The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today issued an Interim Order preventing the execution of the Gazette notification which lifts the protected status of an area belonging to the Vedithalathivu Forest Reserve in Wilpattu.

The Gazette notification was issued by Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Pavithra Wanniarachchi in May to set up an aquaculture industrial park.

The Minister had issued the Gazette notification in order to allocate a section of the Vedithalathivu Forest Reserve in Wilpattu for a prawn farm project. 

However, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the government’s decision in this regard.

The legal challenge contests the Minister’s recent decision to alter the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, as outlined in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2383/05 dated May 6, 2024. 

In its petition, the WNPS argues that this action is illegal, threatens conservation efforts, and was done without proper transparency or due process. The WNPS further highlights the ecological importance of the area, especially the mangroves and seagrass that are within the reserve. 

The Supreme Court having heard the submissions made on behalf of WNPS issued interim orders staying and suspending the operation and validity of the said order of the Minister and further ordered that the Minister and the other Respondents maintain the status quo as of the date of the Petition. (Newswire)

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