Cardinal files writ application against Muthurajawela gazette

The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed a writ application before the Supreme Court with regard to the gazette notification pertaining to Muthurajawela wetlands.

The Cardinal has sought the Supreme Court to issue an order revoking the relevant gazette notification vesting nearly 3,000-acre lands belonging to Muthurajawela wetlands with the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

Minister of Urban Development & Housing and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the UDA and its chairman, Central Environmental Authority, Divisional Secretaries of Wattala, Negombo and Ja-Ela have been named as the respondents of this writ application.

In his petition, the Cardinal stated that nearly 3,000 acres of the Muthurajawela wetlands were transferred to the UDA in a gazette notification published on October 07.

The residents of the area have been afflicted by the said decision, the Cardinal pointed out, seeking a writ order revoking the gazette notification.