Cabinet reviews Regulations on Community Noise Pollution

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Cabinet is currently reviewing the country’s much debated Regulations on Community Noise Pollution, to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The Regulations were drafted by a Special Committee appointed by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka.

The regulatory clauses that come under Community Noise Pollution has been subject to various changes since its manifestation on a Supreme Court order by this Committee about two years ago.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka yesterday said , the fundamental right case in respect of noise pollution , which was filed by the trustees of a mosque, was now over and steps have been taken by the Ministry to make relevant regulations based on those guidelines issued by the Supreme Court during the proceedings of the lawsuit.

Ranawaka said he has handed over copies with draft regulations to the Cabinet for perusal.

The Supreme Court has made an Interim Order on the petition filed by the trustees of Kapuwatta Mohideen Jumma Mosque, Denipitiya, Weligama alleging breach of their fundamental rights because of the refusal of a police officer to issue loudspeaker permits to them to announce their “call to prayers” and to extend the same from three to seven minutes.

Minister Ranawaka said the regulations were of national importance and it calls for widespread approval.

”Once the Cabinet of Ministers review the regulations, I am going to present them to the Members of Parliament as well,” he said.

According to the Supreme Court Interim Order, that the emission of noise by the use of amplifiers , loudspeakers or other equipment or appliances which causes annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity of be considered a public nuisance in terms of Section 261 of the Penal Code and the Police should entertain complaints and take appropriate action for the abatement of such public nuisance.

No permits shall be issued in terms of Section 80 (1) of the Police Ordinance for the use of loudspeakers and other instruments for the amplification of noise as specified in that section covering the period of 10 pm to 6 am.

In respect from 6 am to 10 pm, permits may be issued for limited periods of time for a specific purpose subject to the strict condition that the noise emitted from such amplifier or loudspeaker or equipment does not extend beyond the precincts of the particular premises, according to the Interim Order.