News
CEJ now takes aim at proposed forest rape by the state
By Ifham Nizam
Fresh from their victory in fighting the destruction of Kallaru Reserve Forest in the Court of Appeal,
Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Executive Director Hemantha Withanage this week filed a new writ application in the CA through their lawyers, against a government decision to revive the `Other State Forest’ from the preview of the Forest Department and handover the `other forests’ to District and Division Secretariat.
Attorney-at-Law, Ravindranath Dabare yesterday said Circulars No. 05/2001 and No. 02/2006 dated 10.08.2001 and 17.05. 2006 that had been revoked by way of Circular MWFC/1/2020 dated 04.11.2020 titled `Government residual Forest Management’ by Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation with immediate effect.
He had no authority under the Forest Conservation Ordinance or any other written law to issue such a circular, Dabare said.
“We seek Writ of Mandamus and Certiorari against the respondents- the Secretary of Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Conservator General of Forests, the Secretary of Ministry of Environment and the Attorney General under Article 140 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka,” he said.
The CEJ legal team also stated that “Other State Forests” had been under the purview of District or Divisional Secretariats and Government agents before the issuance of the Circular No. 05/2001, which was intended to prevent the alienation of those forest areas and the destruction fauna and flora.
Many forest lands have been grabbed around the country, in Pollebadda,-Mahaoya, Lahugala, Nilgala and many other areas because of the current circular. These forests link reserve forests with national parks and are serve as corridors for animals. The absence of these Other State Forests will lead to National Parks and Forest Reserves being isolated and fragmented, according to CEJ..
The CEJ said that it was one of the main causes for the Human – Elephant Conflict in the country.
Latest News
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
Salary revision of the Government Service – 2025
Amendment of the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 to be Gazetted
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