Ravindra Gunawardane Kariyawasam v Central Environment Authority and Others

=Principles of Law=


 * Article 12(1)of the Constitution
 * National Environment Act No.47 of 1980, National Environmental (Amendment) Act No. 56 of 1988 and the National Environmental (Amendment) Act No. 53 of 2000.
 * [Public Trust Doctrine]

=Outcome of the case= The CEA and the BOI has failed to prevent the Respondent from operating without the authority of an EPL for several periods of time and failed to adhere to the terms and conditions specificed in the EPLs. Such omissions and inaction on the part of the Central Environment Authoerity and the Board of Investment were held to be 'arbitrary and unreasonable and in a breach of the public trust reposed in the CEA and the BOI'. It was held that such omission 'constituted a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the residents of the Chunnakam area and the petitioner by Article 12(1) of the Constitution'.