BY T. FAROOK THAJUDEEN-Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)-17 Aug 2017
The Supreme Court dismissed a Fundamental Rights Petition filed against Ministers Rishad Bathiudeen and Gamini Jayawickrama Perera under Articles 17 and 126 of the Constitution for infringing the Fundamental Rights of the petitioners by resettling civilians in the Wilpattu Forest Reserve.
It was observed by the court that the resettlement had taken place according to the law and the civilians were resettled on the original lands of the settlers where they had be inherent before evacuated took place during the 30-year war against the LTTE.
Judges Sisira De Arbrew, Nalin Perera and Priyantha Jayawardena dismissed the petition of Rukshan Amal Jayawardena of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society and Shehara De Silva of the Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited without fixing to Leave to Proceed with the petition saying there was no merit in the petition to proceed.
The petitioners cited Ministers Rishad Bathiudeen, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and eight others of the Forest Department, Central Environmental Authority, Ministry of Mahaweli Development, the Land Commissioner, District Secretary of Mannar, Divisional Secretary of Musali and the Attorney General as respondents to the petition.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress