09/05/2020- Colombo Port City Case – CA/Writ/112/15

CEJ filed an application in the Court of Appeal seeking for a Writ of Mandamus against actions of the Director- Coast Conservation Department, Chairman – Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Central Environmental Authority and few others regarding the proposed port city project which was to construct by reclaiming an extent of 575 acres pertaining to the sea.

CEJ filed the amended Petition, Affidavit along the marked documents on 29th of October 2015. Court Directed the Petitioner to support this matter with Notice to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents on 16.03.2017 and Attorney General’s Department move for a further date for support on 2nd of June 2017.

The Court of Appeal was informed that the Attorney General had preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of a writ petition filed against the Chinese funded Colombo Port City Project. When the writ petition came up before Court of Appeal President, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, the petitioners were directed to make their oral submissions regarding the preliminary objections on August 08. Date was fixed for order on 30th of October.

After considering the facts of Written Submission Court of appeal overruled the objections taken up by the respondents and decided to uphold our arguments and also decided to issue notices on the respondents.

In 2019, the case was called on 07^th June and counsels were requested to extend the period for preparation of written submission on behalf of Centre for Environmental Justice. And next calling date was on 14^th June 2019. The case was fixed for judgment on 31^st January 2020, but the Judgment was not given on this day and Hon. Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz informed that all parties would be noticed a date in future by Registrar to deliver the judgement. However, the judgement has been delivered without notice to the Petitioner on 25^th November 2020 denying the requests of the Petitioners and still the Petitioner is unable to receive a copy of the Judgement. [END]