CoA rules clearing Kallaru reserve forest in Wilpattu illegal; orders Rishad to reforest cleared area at his own expense

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.