Writ petition filed to halt illegal activities in Wilpattu National Park

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited (EFL) has filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal seeking urgent intervention to halt alleged illegal activities within Wilpattu National Park, particularly in and around the Pallekandal Church in Block V of the park.  

In its petition, EFL stated that what was once a small jungle shrine used occasionally by local fishing communities for an annual feast has, since the reopening of the park in 2010, expanded into a sprawling church complex. The petitioner argued that this expansion has been facilitated by illegal forest clearing, construction and unregulated human activity inside the protected area.  

The petition further revealed that despite the site’s location within a national park, the government has moved to allow wide-ranging activities, including installing tube wells, granting pilgrim access through multiple entrances by vehicle, permitting 24-hour use of certain zones, continuing use of the existing causeway in 2025, constructing a new bridge in 2026, and even submitting a Cabinet paper to authorize monthly masses from August 2025.  

The EFL warned that such measures would effectively legitimize long-standing illegal practices and cause irreparable harm to one of  Sri Lanka’s most sensitive ecosystems.  

Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national park, is globally recognized for its ecological value. It is home to the country’s rare ‘Villu’ wetland system, diverse habitats ranging from forests to coastal marshes, and iconic species such as elephants and leopards. Nearly fifty villus sustain its ecological balance, while the park’s Ramsar wetland designation underscores its international significance. In addition, Wilpattu contains numerous archaeological sites, further enhancing its cultural and scientific importance.  

The petitioner maintained that ongoing construction, large-scale gatherings, and vehicle access linked to the Pallekandal Church directly contravene Sections 3, 5, and 6 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO).

 which strictly limit activities in protected areas to conservation and regulated wildlife observation.  

EFL also pointed to a previous Supreme Court undertaking in SC/FR/224/2010, which barred public “through traffic” inside the park and required full compliance with the FFPO. The petitioner argued that permitting religious events and associated developments amounts to a breach of this undertaking and sets a dangerous precedent for Sri Lanka’s protected areas.