Destruction continues in Mattala

Wednesday, 01 May 2013 

The destruction of Mattala continues unabated to appease the hunger for power of the Royal family and its lackeys in the Hambantota District.

After clearing 2,000 hectares of forest lands for the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, plans have also been drawn to construct a Commercial City, a housing complex, a university and a solar garden (solar power project) by clearing thick forest lands.

According to environmentalists, although forest lands have been surveyed and earmarked for the proposed projects, none of the projects have carried out Environment Impact Assessments (EIA).

Since over 2,000 acres of forestlands have been earmarked for this project, the implementation of the proposed Elephant Management Area by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has come to a complete standstill.

Environmentalists say that the entire Seenukugala mountain range in Mattala where a thick elephant population is recorded has now been converted to metal quarries where explosives are used to blast granite rocks often.

There are 10 metal quarries each spanning over 50 acres and a large road network has been constructed clearing the forest and according to the workers of these metal quarries the granite is sold for development projects in the area.

Also, 650 acres from Buruthankanda area which too is within the proposed Elephant Management Area are to be cleared for the proposed solar power project.

Meanwhile, District Secretary for the Hambantota District, R.C. de Soysa has told the media that metal quarries running over 50 acres have carried out EIAs but there was necessity for such a study for the other quarries that are less than 50 acres.

He has noted that the university is a BOI project with 50 acres earmarked for it with a 100 acres marked for the housing project and1,000 acres have been allocated for the commercial city project.

SC issues notice on impeached CJ AG files plaint against CA judgement

April 30, 2013, 9:26 pm 

by Chitra Weeraerathne

 The Supreme Court yesterday issued notice on former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and too other respondents.

The notice was pertaining to a special leave to appeal application, filed by the Attorney General, against a Judgment of the Court of Appeal dated February 28, 2013.

By that Judgment, the Court of Appeal, quashed the proceedings of the Parliamentary Select Committee,

which declared that Dr. Bandaranayake was guilty of misconduct and could be impeached from office by a Presidential order.

The Supreme Court yesterday granted special leave to appeal under Article 128/2, of the Constitution.

Attorney General Palitha Fernando PC, in his submission, requesting the Supreme Court to grant leave to appeal, said that the Supreme Court may grant leave to appeal in terms of Article 128/2 when the issue in question is one of public interest.

The Supreme Court granted special leave to appeal, coming within the clause on public interest, under the following question, whether the Court of Appeal erred in law in holding that the writ jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, embodied in Article 140 extends to proceeding in Parliament, and to proceedings of any Parliamentary Committee, and also whether, the Court of Appeal did err in law in holding that the words "Any Court of first instance, tribunal or institution, stated in Article 140 of the Constitution extends to Parliament or a Parliamentary Select Committee.

The respondents were given time to file objections. Hearing was fixed for May 29.

The Attorney General appeared with Additional Solicitor General T. Ghanathasan PC, Deputy Solicitor Generals, Shavindra Fernando Sanjay Rajaratnam, M. Nawaz, Janak de Silva and Senior State Xounsel Nerin Pulle.

The Bench comprised, Justices Saleem Marsoof, Sathya Hettige and Eva Wanasundera.

The notice issued on respondents Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, R. Sambandan of the TNA and Vijitha Herath of the JVP is returnable on May 29. 2013.