The Court of Appeal on Wednesday issued notices on a writ petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) accusing senior state authorities of failing to implement statutory disaster preparedness and management duties despite escalating climate-related threats, The Island reported.
The petition was filed by the CEJ and its directors Hemantha Withanage and Dilena Pathragoda. It names responsible ministers, government institutions and public officials and seeks writs in the nature of mandamus compelling them to discharge obligations imposed under Sri Lanka’s disaster management and environmental laws.
Senior Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, appearing for the petitioners, described the case as exposing “a systemic failure in institutional preparedness and legal compliance.”
“This is not merely an environmental issue. It is fundamentally about public safety, governance and the duty of the State to protect citizens from foreseeable disasters,” Dr. Dabare said. He argued that Sri Lanka already had adequate legal provisions on disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness, but implementation and coordination among authorities remained weak.
“The law is very clear. State institutions cannot remain passive until disasters occur. Preventive action and preparedness are mandatory obligations under the existing legal framework,” he added.
The petition alleges that authorities had failed to take timely and adequate measures to minimise disaster risks and ensure coordinated emergency responses, despite climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of natural disasters across the country.
The Disaster Management Centre has continued issuing warnings on heavy rain, flash floods and landslides as the South-West monsoon strengthens. The Court of Appeal will take the case up again on a future date.
The writ lands as NBRO has issued fresh landslide warnings across four districts on the back of the South-West monsoon and after the President’s Essential Public Services Act gazette was extended to disaster-response personnel — measures the petitioners argue do not substitute for proper enforcement of existing disaster law.
Source: The Island.
