The Supreme Court has issued an interim injunction halting the proceedings of a case filed by the Criminal Investigation Department before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court regarding the possession of unregistered elephants.
The order was made after reviewing a motion filed by a group, including the Center for Natural and Cultural Studies, in connection with a fundamental rights petition previously submitted.
The ruling was issued by a bench consisting of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena and Arjuna Obeysekara.
President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, representing the petitioner, argued that the Court of Appeal had already issued an order preventing the release of elephants in the custody of the Wildlife Department, in relation to the case before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court regarding unregistered elephants.
The President’s Counsel further contended that despite this order, the alleged owners of the elephants had filed petitions with the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to release the elephants, which he argued was in violation of the law.
After considering the facts, the Supreme Court bench ordered the immediate suspension of the case proceedings in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and instructed that the case file be transferred to the Supreme Court.
Additionally, the bench directed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to refrain from taking any further action regarding the case.
The Supreme Court also issued an order suspending all prior orders issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court related to this case, pending the completion of the petition’s hearing.
