The Court of Appeals today issued notice on Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to appear in court on September 16 with regards to a writ petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice against the illegal clearing of Wilpattu and illegal settlement on the adjacent area.
The Centre for Environmental Justice petitioned the Court of Appeal on July 16, seeking a writ order against the clearing of the Wilpattu National Park and illegal settlement of people in the adjacent areas.
Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Central Environment Authority, Controller General of Forests, Director General of Wildlife Department, Director General of Archeology, Mannar District Secretary, and the Attorney General are among the respondents.
The petitioner said that Bathiudeen was responsible for the mobilization of clearing the forest and constructing illegal settlements.
The petitioner also said that 2000ha of forest has been cleared and 12,500 families have been resettled under the pretext of settling IDPs.
