Archbishop condemns Casino village in Katana

Wednesday, 27 Nov 2013

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, condemning the setting up of a Casino village in Katana, said, "The move to establish a casino village will threaten the spiritual mores of even the rural and traditional values still respected in the villages of our motherland."

The Cardinal, releasing a press communiqué, stated, he had been made to understand that the Government of Sri Lanka is making plans to establish a casino village in the Katana area in the Gampaha District in order to attract foreign investments.

"The move to establish a casino village will threaten the spiritual mores of even the rural and traditional values of the villages in our motherland. Hence, I wish to express my protest, and condemnation of this move to sell the spiritual and cultural dignity of Sri Lanka for financial gain.

"Sri Lankan soil fed by the religious traditions of the world's four religions is not on sale, it must be told. And I call upon all those who cherish that to protect and oppose this move strongly, and call upon the government not to go ahead with these plans. Development – yes; but not at the price of our dignity," the Cardinal stated in the release.
SJSJN takes CEA, BOI and Venigros to Court

Wednesday, 27 Nov 2013

The Court of Appeal issued a notice on Wednesday to the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Board of Investment (BOI) and Venigros (Pvt) Limited, after considering the writ application filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and a representative of Siyane Jalaya Syurakeema Jana Neguma (SJSJN), regarding the pollution caused by a factory in Rathupaswala, Weliweriya.

The CEJ and the SJSJN filed the writ application bearing No. C.A. 385/13 in the Court of Appeal on 11 November 2013 to seek a writ of mandamus, compelling the Central Environmental Authority and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka to bring justice to the residents of Rathupaswala. The CEJ and the SJSJN want to take legal action against Venigros (Pvt) Ltd., for the pollution of inland water and soil in Rathupaswala, and for violating the terms and conditions of the Environment Protection Licence (EPL) in the performance of the statutory duty in compliance with the provisions of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980, as amended.

The protesters have stated in their petition that the CEA and the BOI had failed to undertake investigations to ensure compliance with this Act and to investigate complaints relating to non-compliance for the conditions of the EPL. They also go on to declare that the Venigros (Pvt) Ltd., had sent industrial effluents out of the factory which, if not properly treated, are harmful to the environment.

Furthermore, it was stated that some residents from the Nedungamuwa area had complained that they are unable to use their well water for consumption and they have been subjected to various diseases because of the company discharging polluted water. Petitioners have campaigned to issue an order of the nature of a writ of mandamus to relocate the factory as a consequence of the report prepared by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

The Court issued the return notice on 27 January 2014 and the case was supported on 26 November 2013.The bench was chaired by Justice Anil Gunarathne and Senior Counsel Ravindranath Dabare with Attorney-at-Law Nimal Wickramasinghe appeared for the petitioners.