News
CEJ challenges through writ petition illegal landfills and dumping of waste in Muthurajawela wetlands
State officials and environmentalists inspecting the damage the wetland has suffered
By Ifham Nizam
The Centre for Environmental Justice, through a writ petition in the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, challenged the illegal landfills and dumping of garbage in the Muthurajawela wetlands .
CEJ Executive Director Hemantha Withanage said several factories located in and around the Muthurajawela wetland released their waste into the protected area.
Although some factories had been granted Environmental Protection Licences (EPLs), there was no proper monitoring system in place, Withanage said.
The Petitioners also stated that Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), required under the provisions of the National Environmental Act before starting projects close to protected areas, has not been prepared and the sanctuary and adjacent landscape was being illegally filled by several people in contravention of the provisions of Section 33(1) of the Agrarian Development Act and Section 07 of the Fauna & Flora Protection Ordinance.
Accordingly, the petitioners have requested the Court of Appeal to issue an interim order preventing people from filling up the Muthurajawela wetland and dumping garbage there and help clarify the legal status and demarcate the boundaries of the Sanctuary, Environmental Protection Area and the Wetland through a joint survey conducted by the Respondents and local administrators and to amend the Master Plan for Muthurajawela Marsh and Negombo Lagoon (1991) incorporating the necessary changes to reflect the present needs and to implement the amended Master Plan.
The Central Environmental Authority, Minister of Environment, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Director General – Department of Forest Conservation, Conservator General of Forest, Commissioner General – Department of Agrarian Services, Director General – Irrigation Department, Inspector General of Police, Divisional Secretariat – Wattala, Divisional Secretariat – Negombo, Divisional Secretariat – Ja – Ela & the Attorney General have been named respondents in this case.
Withanage said that Wetlands were important habitats for a diverse plant and animal species.
The Muthurajawela Wetland is the largest coastal saline peat bog in Sri Lanka. It is a cradle of biodiversity, housing several endemic and nationally threatened species, provides an important area for migratory birds, in addition to offering a number of ecological and hydrological services. According to a study done by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Muthurajawela has 209 species of fauna along with 194 distinct species of flora.
Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican.
Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a “lasting peace” in the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and welcomed Saturday’s agreement to end recent hostilities between India and Pakistan.
He said he was “deeply hurt” by events in Gaza, expressed hope for a “lasting accord” between India and Pakistan, and wished for a “authentic, true and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
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May this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings – PM
In her Vesak day message, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya wished that this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings
The full text of the prime ministers vesak day message:
“It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha’s life.
Since ancient times, the lives of the Sri Lankan people have been deeply rooted by the teaching of the Lord Buddha and this is a greater inheritance we have received through the Dhamma. In our country, where people of diverse ethnicities and religions coexist in harmony, the collective celebration of a major religious festival such as Vesak stands as a powerful testament to that unity.
This year Vesak day celebration marks the first to be celebrated under the current government, which was established with the vision of “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life.” I believe that this Vesak season is a particularly a time to heal the hearts and minds of humanity, especially as our nation embarks on a path of meaningful transformation. Through this message, I take this opportunity to invite all of citizens to unite in mind and spirit, bound together by mutual respect and compassion.
I join all Sri Lankans in praying that the flames of war burning in various parts of the world at this moment may be extinguished, and that all people across the globe may be blessed with lives of happiness and peace.
May all of you have a blessed Vesak!”
News
Special waste management programme launched under “Clean Sri Lanka” during the State Vesak Festival
Parallel with the State Vesak Festival that commenced on Saturday (10) in the Nuwara Eliya District, a special waste management initiative has been launched under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to enhance facilities for devotees and ensure proper waste disposal in the city of Nuwara Eliya.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected to visit Nuwara Eliya during the Vesak Week, from May 10 to 16, this initiative is aimed at preserving the cleanliness and beauty of the area.
The programme will focus particularly on areas around the Gregory Lake, a key tourist attraction, and the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, the venue for the State Vesak Festival.
In addition, the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative urges visiting devotees to refrain from bringing non-biodegradable material such as polythene and calls on all citizens to act responsibly by properly disposing of waste only at designated locations, while maintaining the sanctity and cleanliness of the environment.
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