The Wildlife Department in a report submitted to the Court of Appeal has revealed that many privately owned lands can be found within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary. The Wildlife Department submitted to the Court that filings of lands and waste disposal have taken place as this area has become more densely populated through illegal acquisition of lands.
In its report, the Wildlife Department has revealed a number of illegal constructions and filling of lands within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary and feared that this situation could bring adverse effects to both animal and human community as a whole. The Wildlife Department had filed this report in connection with the writ petitions filed by Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and Centre for Environmental Justice.
According to the report, it includes an incident in which a village consisting of 15 houses (Kindigoda Village) had been constructed within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary.
The Wildlife Department further informed that Seeduwa-Katunayake Municipal Council is dumping garbage to a private land located within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary and a case had been filed in this regard at Negombo Magistrate’s Court.
The Wildlife Department further said removal of notice board of Muthurajawela Sanctuary had occured in 2017. Referring to a 700-acre land which brought attention to the society, the Wildlife Department said that a private owner is claiming his rights for the land. The report further revealed that a massive wall had been built in a private land located within Muthurajawela Sanctuary at Kindigoda area.
Meanwhile, taking into consideration the prevailing security situation, the Wildlife Rage Officer in Charge of Muthurajawela Sanctuary has highlighted the necessity of having an official firearm in order to discharge their duties.
The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice (President) Arjuna Obeysekera and Justice Mayadunna Corea fixed two petitions for July 12.
In their petition, Centre for Environmental Justice and its Executive Director Withanage Don Hemantha Ranjith Sisira Kumara named Central Environmental Authority, Minister of Environment, Minister of Wild Life and Forest Conservation and nine others as respondents.
The petitioners are seeking an interim order directing the respondents to stay any further dumping of waste and the filling of lands within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary.
Filing this petition through counsel Ravindranath Dabare, the petitioners alleged that a land filling racket has been going on for years mainly due to the fact that the said sanctuary is situated at a prime location, in the close vicinity to Port City, highway, other development projects and Colombo.
The Petitioners state that Muthurajawela and Negombo lagoon wetland complex is located 10 km North of Colombo in the Gampaha District, of the Western Province.
President's Counsel Shamil Perera with counsel Duthika Perera under the instructions of counsel Sandun Nagahawatta appeared for Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Counsel Ravindranath Dabare appeared for the CEJ.
