Wannila Aththo’s writ petition to be heard on September 8

The writ petition filed by Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, the leader of the indigenous population known as ‘Veddas’, challenging the clearing of  lands at Pollebedda-Rambakenoya, was yesterday (13) fixed for September 8 by the Court of Appeal.  

Court was informed that the respondents including the RAN Plantations (Pvt) Ltd and the Attorney General have already filed limited objections against the petition.   

Uruwarige Wannila Aththo and the Center for Environmental Justice filed this petition seeking an interim order, staying the validity of approvals granted to Mahaweli Authority for the proposed Agriculture, Livestock Development Project.  

The RAN Plantations (Pvt) Ltd had told Court that the company utilised abandoned lands which were earlier used for chena cultivation.  

Filing this petition through counsel Ravindranath Dabare, the petitioners have named the Central Environmental Authority, Mahaweli Development Authority, Department of Forests, Department of Wild Life Conservation, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, RAN Plantations (Pvt) Ltd and several others as respondents. 

Uruwarige Wannila Aththo and the Center for Environmental Justice filed  this petition seeking an interim order, staying the validity of  approvals granted to Mahaweli Authority