Kahapola Arachchige Prabath Anuruddha Nilupul Fernando vs Urban Council Kesbewa – CA 177/2010-2014

The case between Kahapola Arachchige Prabath Anuruddha Nilupul Fernando and others (officials of Environmentalist Delthara) and Urban Council Kesbewa, Sampath Perera, and related government officials addressed whether public/statutory duties existed requiring prevention of illegal soil filling and unauthorized construction in the Bolgoda lake and marshlands, and whether such duties had been performed as per constitutional and statutory obligations. It was determined that statutory and constitutional environmental protection duties bind public officials, especially under Articles 27(14) and 28(F) and relevant environmental statutes, requiring active enforcement rather than minimal compliance. The decision reaffirmed the public trust doctrine as a guiding principle in Sri Lankan law, emphasi