The Supreme Court yesterday (22) granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition, challenging the Gazette notification issued by Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, to de-gazette a section of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve in Wilpattu to allocate it for a prawn farm project.

The order was issued by a Two-Judge Bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena and Shiran Gooneratne after reviewing the petition filed by several environmental groups, including the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ). The petition will be heard on 12 November 2024.

On 27 June, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order halting the implementation of the Gazette Notification, which was issued in May to de-gazette part of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve for an aquaculture industrial park. This interim order will remain in effect until the petition is concluded.

The Gazette Extraordinary issued by Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi proposed setting up an aquaculture industrial park in the de-gazetted area, which would be used for farming marine finfish, crabs and exotic shrimp species in a Public-Private Partnership.

The contested gazette specified that the area mentioned in its appendix would no longer be part of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve. However, environmental groups, including the CEJ, have challenged this decision, citing concerns over the reserve’s protection.

The Vidataltivu Nature Reserve, the country’s third-largest Marine Protected Area and close to the Vankalai Sanctuary, was designated as a Nature Reserve by Gazette No 1956/13 on 1 March 2016. The area, which covers 29,000 hectares, was identified for protection in the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Northern Province conducted in 2012.

In the petition, the CEJ argued that the actions of the Wildlife Conservation Department are in direct contravention of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO), undermining the legal framework established to protect Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. By bypassing mandatory provisions of the Ordinance, the Department not only acted unlawfully but also endangered the integrity and conservation objectives of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve.

Further, the CEJ contended that the failure to conduct a comprehensive study to assess the ecological consequences of the proposed changes risks severe ecological degradation. The unique flora and fauna of the reserve, some of which may be endemic or endangered, face imminent threats of habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation. Such degradation would have irreversible consequences, undermining the biodiversity and ecological balance of the region.

Moreover, the CEJ argued that the proposed aquaculture project or any other project planned for the de – gazetted area will benefit only a select few, at the expense of the broader public good. The exploitation of the Nature Reserve for limited private gain disregards the significant ecological, social and cultural values of the area, which belong to all citizens.

The CEJ emphasised that the degradation of the reserve will adversely affect the local communities that rely on its ecosystem services for their livelihoods. These communities depend on the reserve for clean water, climate regulation and other essential ecosystem services. Seniour Counsel Ravindranath Dabare with Attorney-at-Law Savanthi Ponnamperuma instructed by Attorney-at-Law Kanchana Balachandra represented the CEJ.

The National Security Council, chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, held a meeting today (19) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss preparations for the 2024 Presidential election.

Canada announced Wednesday it was slashing international student permits next year, and tightening foreign worker rules to further bring down the number of temporary residents in the country.

Three persons, including the invigilator, who were on duty at the examination centre of the Rathmale Thissa Maha Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura were to be suspended over the leakage of a Grade 5 Scholarship Examination question paper, North Central Provincial Education Director S.M.W. Samarakoon said.

The Examinations Department and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have launched an investigation into concerns raised over the first paper of the recently held Grade 5 Scholarship examination.

Sri Lanka has reached agreements with external commercial creditors to restructure approximately USD 17.5 bn of external debt, achieving a 40.3% Net Present Value (NPV) concession, the President’s Media Division said.

The Education Ministry today announced the closure of all schools tomorrow (20) as requested by the Election Commission. The schools will reopen on Monday (23).

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has announced a trade union action tomorrow (18), targeting hospitals across the country, GMOA spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.

Six teachers, including a school principal in an examination centre in Anuradhapura, who had allegedly shared the first question paper of the Grade Five scholarship examination using a mobile phone, were taken into custody by the officials of the Examinations Department.

Over the past 76 years, politics in the country has turned into a massive business, causing widespread hardships, Presidential candidate Janaka Rathnayaka said.

SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, addressing a rally, pledged to provide targeted fuel subsidies to essential workers, including farmers, fishermen, three-wheeler drivers and school van/bus operators.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the presidential candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP), has pledged to completely remove VAT on essential sectors such as food, education, and healthcare.

PAFFREL has received reports from the Nuwara Eliya area over a group distributing boxes of matches featuring a Presidential candidate's picture and election symbol on either side. Executive Director of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi, said he has informed the Assistant Commissioner of Elections for the Nuwara Eliya district about this issue.

The Public Security Ministry said that there are currently no plans to impose a curfew on election day and that all security measures are in place, with the armed forces on standby if necessary.

NPP MP Vijitha Herath hinted that the Prime Minister could be a female in a National People's Power (NPP) government. Speaking at a meeting in Minuwangoda, he said after the victory on September 21, a new Cabinet will be appointed with the powers vested with the President under Article 47.3 of the Constitution and parliament will be dissolved.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, leader of the United Republic Front, urged voters planning to support Ranil Wickremesinghe or the SLPP not to waste their votes.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has not established any new consulates nor made additional honorary consul appointments in Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry said Sri Lanka continues to maintain its official embassy in Tel Aviv, which has been the sole diplomatic mission in Israel since 2000.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to bring in a legislation to ban corporal punishment soon.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has officially reached a final decision to endorse Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), at the upcoming presidential election. The announcement came after a party meeting held this morning (Sep. 16) in Vavuniya, where the party’s central committee made the final decision.

An investigation has been launched after a back-up helicopter escorting President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an emergency landing on Saturday. The Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 412 (SUH 522) made an unplanned landing in a paddy field in Eppawala yesterday due to a technical issue.

National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that his government would cancel Indian conglomerate Adani’s 450 MW wind power project in Sri Lanka if elected. He claimed the agreement was corrupt and skewed against Sri Lanka’s interests.