September 11, Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal has directed several key government figures, including the Ministers of Lands and Environment, to respond to legal proceedings urging the introduction of a comprehensive national land management framework.
The court’s order follows a public interest petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice, raising alarm over the absence of a coherent policy to govern the country’s limited land resources.
The case was heard today (11) before Justices Dhammika Ganepola and Adithya Patabendi, who instructed the named parties to present their official responses by November 28.
Representing the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare argued that Sri Lanka’s current approach to land allocation and regulation is fragmented and inconsistent. He noted that critical zones such as farmland, protected forests, wetlands, and residential areas have not been clearly identified or managed under a unified national strategy.
“This lack of direction has led to widespread misuse and degradation of vital land resources,” Dabare told the court, adding that the situation has triggered both environmental degradation and socio-economic inefficiencies across multiple sectors.
He further warned that without a national land use plan, the country remains vulnerable to unchecked development, poor agricultural planning, and increasing human-wildlife conflicts, among other challenges. As an island nation with finite territory, Sri Lanka cannot afford to approach land governance in a piecemeal manner, he emphasised.
The court, after considering the initial arguments, issued notices to several senior officials, including the Director General of Wildlife, requesting detailed explanations on the current state of land management policies and what measures, if any, are being considered to address the gaps.
