Appeal Court orders to curb air pollution in Jaffna Municipality area

Colombo, Nov. 11 (Daily Mirror) - The Court of Appeal today directed the relevant authorities, including the Jaffna Municipal Council, to take necessary measures to reduce air pollution within the municipal area, particularly by refraining from burning garbage, in accordance with the Gazette notification issued in 2017.

The order was made in connection with a writ petition filed by Dr. Umasugi Nadarajah, a medical practitioner, which was taken up before a two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising its President, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Senior Counsel Ravindranath Dabare informed court that a Gazette notification had been issued by former President Maithripala Sirisena in 2017 under the National Environmental (Prohibition of Open Burning of Refuse and Other Combustible Matters Including Plastics) Regulations No. 1 of 2017, prohibiting any person from openly burning or causing, allowing or permitting the open burning of refuse or other combustible materials, including plastics.

He emphasised the importance of effectively implementing this Gazette notification to minimise air pollution within the municipal area.

The petition was fixed for further hearing on January 22 next year.