Ja-ela PS noticed for contempt of court

Jayantha de SILVA

High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse on (28) issued notice on both the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Ja- Ela Pradeshiya Sabha for contempt of court returnable on July 25.

In this case petitioner V.P.Sanil Samantha Fernando, a resident of Morawatte in Kandana requested a Mandamus Writ to be issued for the closure of a pig sty.

The respondents cited are the CEA, Chairman , Ja Ela Pradeshiya Sabha and the Attorney General. The petition inter alia states that by a court order the operation of the farm based pig sty had been halted. Furthermore, any permit previously issued had been cancelled. In addition, remove the farm in accordance with the Environmental Act. However, the first and second respondents had refrained from taking any steps for its closure.

According to a statement of the farm owner, the 1st respondent had instructed him to continue with the farm’s operation as there had been no written court order. The first and second respondents had refrained from implementing the court directive. The first respondent had instructed the farm owner to continue, thereby the respondents have prevented the relevant parties from acting in accordance with the court directive. Attorney at Law Ravindra Dabare appeared for the petitioner.