In an action filed by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) bearing case no. SCFR 154/2024 filed on 5 June 2024, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka granted an interim order staying a decision made by the Government to reduce the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, as outlined in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2383/05 dated 6 May 2024.i

When this matter was taken up again on 12 November 2024, the Supreme Court extended the said interim order until the next date of hearing of the matter, which was fixed for 29 July 2025.

In terms of the petition filed, the WNPS highlighted the ecological importance of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, and the importance of mangroves, salt marshes, and sea-grasses that support a number of species and help purify the air through carbon sequestration. It is the position of the Society that the decision to degazette part of the Nature Reserve was a decision that would be harmful to the environment, would threaten conservation efforts, and was conducted without proper transparency or due process.

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