CASE UPDATE – Case against sludge dumping at Madampitiya CA Writ 349/2020
March 22, 2021
By: Admin
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This was filed on 18th September 2020 against the Respondents of Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Inspector General of Police, Officer-in-Charge of Grandpass Police Station, Municipal Commissioner of Colombo Municipal Council, Kaburapola Engineering and Constructions and Hon. Attorney General.
Petitioners filed this case to prevent illegal dumping of toxic hazardous waste and effluents, other than sewage to the ocean at Madampitiya Sewage Disposal Plant, operated by the Colombo Municipal Council. Recently, 19 bowers filled with wastewater sludge originated from the Teejay Lanka PLC situated at the Seethawaka Industrial Zone transported to Mandampitiya, and 10 of waste sludge had already been dispatched when the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Special Task Force (STF) and Environmental Police Unit of the Grandpass Police Station apprehended by the coordinated efforts.
Petitioners seeks from the Petition to indict the perpetrators and to conduct an independent investigation into the said matter without any unreasonable delay and apprehend all parties involved, to investigate into the said disposal of toxic wastewater sludge to the sea and other places, to monitor the sewage disposal facilities which discharge effluents to the sea, to establish check points manage by MEPA and CEA together with the Environmental Police Units and/or Armed Forces at such facilities, to coordinate all waste disposal activities by industries in order to minimize the illegal dumping of harmful waste and effluents to the environment. This case was supported on 05th March 2021 and the court directed to issue the formal Notices on the respondents. The Notice returnable date is on 03rd May 2021. [END]