Deputy Solicitor General Fosley Razik, representing the respondents in the case, informed the Supreme Court today that the newly elected government has decided to reassess the controversial gazette notification issued by the Wildlife Ministry. This notification had authorized the release of 168 acres of the Wilpattu Vedithalatheevu Reserve Forest for the development of a shrimp farm.
The petition challenging this gazette was heard by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices S. Thurairajah, Dilip Nawaz, and Janak de Silva. Filed by the Wildlife Protection Association, the Environmental Justice Center, and other concerned parties, the petition names former Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and several others as respondents.
Previously, the court had issued an interim injunction halting the implementation of the gazette. Today, the Supreme Court ordered the extension of this injunction until July 29 of the following year. This decision followed Deputy Solicitor General Razik’s notification to the court about the new government’s intention to review the disputed gazette.
In light of these developments, Deputy Solicitor General Razik requested a new date for further proceedings on the petition. Consequently, the bench has scheduled the next hearing for June 29 of next year.
