Illegal land fillings, constructions at Attidiya Birds Sanctuary:

SC to inquire into complaints

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Supreme Court yesterday decided to inquire into the complaints of illegal land fillings and constructions in the Attidiya birds sanctuary.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC with Justice Shirani Thilakawardane and Justice Jagath Balapatabendi. The petitioners, a group of environment enthusiasts living in the neighbourhood of the wetland, complained by way of a fundamental rights application to court that illegal activities of the company, Wet Park Island Resort Pvt. Ltd., were seriously damaging plants and animals in the Attidiya wetland.

They alleged that thickly weeded areas of the wetland were being filled and illegal constructions were being erected in breach of the lease agreement entered into with the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation.

The petitioners stated that the respondent company entered into a lease agreement with the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation to construct a leisure park without damaging the wetland which is a special eco system frequented by many migratory birds.

The petitioners are seeking to cancel the agreement.

The petitioners cited the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Central Environment Authority, Urban Development Authority, the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council Mayor, Wet Park Island Resort Pvt. Ltd. and 20 others as respondents. J.C. Weliamuna appeared for the petitioners.

The case put off for January 28.