The Court of Appeal Tuesday fixed to deliver the verdict on a writ petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) seeking an order to remove the unauthorized structures erected in the Wilpattu National Park forest on September 28.
The CEJ in its writ petition named the Central Environmental Authority, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, Conservator General of the Forest Conservation Department, Commissioner General of Lands, Commissioner General of Archeological Department, Mannar District Secretary, Minister of Environment and Mahaweli Development, and the Attorney General as respondents.
The Petitioner told the court that certain areas of the Wilpattu National Park declared as a conserved forest were deforested and unauthorized constructions have been erected.
The petitioners claimed that the environment was badly damaged by the unauthorized construction and requested the court to declare them illegal and order the respondents to remove them.
After a lengthy trial, the Court of Appeal said it would issue the ruling on the petition on 28 September.
