Bulankulama v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial Development (Eppawala Case) – sllr 2000 volume 3 page 243

In the case between Bulankulama and Others (residents of Eppawela, including farmers and temple authorities) and the Secretary, Ministry of Industrial Development and Others (including relevant government agencies), the court addressed the issue of whether a proposed Mineral Investment Agreement for phosphate mining at Eppawela infringed the petitioners’ fundamental rights under Articles 12(1), 14(1)(g), and 14(1)(h) of the Constitution. It was held that the permissive contractual framework and lack of comprehensive environmental and statutory review risked violating constitutional protections, threatening environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability. The court reaffirmed the principle that state actions regarding natural resources must comply with statutory standards and safeguard