The writ petition filed by Center for Environmental Justice seeking an order directing the authorities to take necessary steps to implement the draft regulation on visual pollution through banners, hoardings and posters during elections was yesterday fixed for support by the Court of Appeal.
Court of Appeal Justices Janak de Silva and Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne fixed the matter for support on October 31.
The Attorney General yesterday sought further time to obtain instructions from the first respondent, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).
In its petition, the petitioner cited the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Inspector General of Police and Attorney General as respondents.
The petitioner states that with the upcoming election there is a grave necessity that the concerned drafted regulation be implemented at the earliest as the elections had obliterated the natural beauty and vista of the cities and major towns. The petitioner further stated that the posters end up as rubbish, thereby polluting the environment and increasing the cost incurred by the Municipal and Urban Councils for the collection and removal of such waste.
The petitioner had instituted legal action on March 2009 seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the CEA to recommend to local government institutions the implementation of a comprehensive national policy or criteria for the regulation of erection of banners, hoardings and posters for the purpose of controlling visual pollution and defacement of scenic places and public property.
The petitioner states that accordingly the CEA had tendered a finalised draft of the regulations on visual pollution to the Court of Appeal on November 27, 2014.
The petitioner alleged that the CEA had failed to take necessary action to implement the said regulation on visual pollution to date.
This petition has been filed through attorney-at-law Ravindranath Dabare.
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