The Court of Appeal today declared that clearing the Kallaru reserve forest near the Wilpattu forest reserve and constructing settlements in the cleared area is illegal. The two-judge bench of the Court consist of Justice Janak de Silva and Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne.
Issuing the final verdict on a writ petition filed by Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ), the Court also ruled that former Minister and Wanni District Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who was named as a respondent in the petition, to plant trees at his own expense to reforest the forest area cleared for settlements.
The Court also directed respondents to pay the due fees to the petitioners.
Earlier CEJ filed the petition arguing that displaced families had been relocated 400 metres from the park, causing massive deforestation in the area.
The Wildlife Department's Director-General, the Central Environmental Authority, the Mannar District Court, former minister Rishad Bathiudeen, and the Attorney General were named as the nine respondents cited in the petition.
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
Cabinet has approved the appointment of Commodore (retired) M.B.N.A. Premaratne of the Sri Lanka Navy, as the new Commissioner General of Excise.
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