The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed for today (31) to decide whether it would issue notices on respondents after issuing an Interim Order regarding a writ petition filed against the consignments of imported waste material currently being stored in the Colombo Port and Katunayake Free Trade Zone.
Court of Appeal President, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda PC and Justice Arjuna Obeysekara made this order pursuant to a writ petition filed by the Central Environmental Authority seeking an order in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, directing the Director General of Customs to act under and in terms of the Customs Ordinance in taking measures to punish the offenders who imported consignments of waste materials from United Kingdom.
On Thursday (29), the Court of Appeal ordered the Government Analyst to immediately inspect and submit an analytical report regarding the alleged consignment of containers carrying waste material which are currently being held at the Colombo Port and at a cargo hub area in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone.
This petition had been filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice and its Executive Director Hemantha Ranjith Sisira Kumara naming the Central Environmental Authority, Customs Director General and the Attorney General as respondents.
The petitioners are further seeking an order in the nature of Writ of Certiorari quashing the validity of all documents or permits granted by any authority to import waste in violation of the provisions of the National Environmental Act.
Counsel Ravindranath Dabare with Nirmal Wickremasinghe appeared for the petitioner. Senior State Counsel Charuka Ekanayake appeared for the Attorney General.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for Hayleys Free Zone Limited (HFZ).
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