The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the new government intends to review the Extraordinary Gazette notification issued by former Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, which altered the boundaries of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve to facilitate an aquaculture project.
Deputy Solicitor General Fazly Razick, representing the Attorney General, made these remarks in connection with two Fundamental Rights petitions filed by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka and the Environment Foundation. These petitions were heard before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Janak De Silva.
Previously, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order suspending the operation of the Extraordinary Gazette issued by Minister Wanniarachchi, which modified the boundaries of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve for an aquaculture project. This interim order was further extended today till July 29, 2025.
The petitioners are challenging the unlawful acts of the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation by Extraordinary Gazette bearing No. 2383/05 and dated 6th May 2024.
The petitioners stated that this Gazette issued by the subject Minister noted that the area specified in the appendix of the gazette will no longer be designated as part of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve.
The petitioners further state that the area that formed the Nature Reserve was identified as an area requiring protection by an Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as ISEA-NPSL) carried out by the Central Environmental Authority and Disaster Management Centre with other government departments and experts between 2009 and 2014 and published in 2014.
They state that Vidataltivu falls under the classification of a “Strict Nature Reserve” declared under the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. It is critical for mangroves and fauna including rare species of great biodiversity and crucial ecological significance. Vidataltivu is situated close to the buffer zone near the Wilpattu National Park and the former Minister has de-gazzeted portions of the strict nature reserve to give it to a private company doing shrimp farming.
President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardana PC with Dilumi de Alwis and Rukshan Senadheera appeared for the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, while Counsel Nilshantha Sirimanne with Deshara Goonetilleke appeared for the Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Ltd.
(dailymirror.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
The 9th China-South Asia Expo, which opened on June 19 in Kunming, China, will conclude tomorrow (June 24).
This year’s event held under the theme “Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development, has attracted over 1,400 companies from 54 countries and regions, with Sri Lanka as the Guest of Honour country and Thailand as the special partner nation.
China-Sri Lanka bilateral trade reached a record high of USD 5.36 billion in 2024, representing a 13.4% year-on-year increase. This makes Sri Lanka China’s fastest-growing trade partner in South Asia.
The Sri Lankan pavilion was officially declared open by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade and Commerce – Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment – Arun Hemachandra, who jointly led the country’s high-level delegation to the prestigious regional event.
CGTN’s Ms. Li Qiuyuan spoke with Mr. Kusal Perera, a political analyst and writer for ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’, about his expectations for the expo.
Speaking, Mr. Perera said that Sri Lanka needs to see how the ‘export basket’ can be diversified from the traditional export goods such as tea, in order to make the most of this platform to boost bilateral trade and engagement with China.
When asked which emerging areas such as energy transformation, digital economy and low carbon development seem to be the most promising for the island nation, Mr. Perera highlighted the importance of a combination of energy, technology and environment. “But in the process, we also have to have our national economy planned to accommodate all that,” he emphasised, adding that it will be a long process for Sri Lanka.
He further commented : “I see China opening up instead of getting into protectionism like Europe. It’s basically the second largest economy in the world… still expanding… still improving… still developing…”
China’s economic openness for all South Asian countries is a huge opportunity in a global economy that now retreats with regulated and protected markets. Protectionism would not be a catalyst for economic growth. We in South Asia have to be open too. China is already open and its economy is growing on global trade. It’s their openness that has taken them everywhere” he adds.
Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs – Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala has informed Parliament that a renewed investigation is underway into a fraudulent bank account allegedly maintained by Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He stated that a fake account titled ‘Siriliya Saviya’ had been opened in her name and that the mandate form related to the ‘Siriliya’ Organization’s bank accounts had been fraudulently removed from the bank.
The Minister further revealed :
The account, now suspended, was opened on November 14, 2006, at the People’s Bank, Suduwella Branch, Darley Road, Colombo 10, under account number 143/1/001/4/6235069. Shiranthi Rajapaksa is listed as the chairperson of the account, with Kalyani Dissanayake as secretary and Nirosha Jeevani as treasurer.
The account currently holds a balance of Rs.43 million. Records indicate that Rs. 82,900,088 had been deposited on 88 occasions, while Rs.39,015,656 had been withdrawn on 129 occasions. Additionally, a fixed deposit of Rs.10 million had been opened under the name ‘Siriliya’.
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has resumed investigations into the matter.
Deputy Minister also mentioned several other questionable financial transactions involving the Rajapaksa family, such as ;
Rs.152 million allegedly obtained by CSN (Carlton Sports Network) from the Treasury.
Rs.35 million obtained by Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the Urban Development Authority to build a memorial for his parents.
Rs.208 million used by Basil Rajapaksa to purchase a house in Malwana.
