Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited vs. Hon. Douglas Devananda and others – CA WRIT NO: 463/20-2022

In the case between Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited and various state officials, including the Minister of Fisheries and other high-ranking fisheries authorities, the issue concerned ongoing bottom trawling activities in the Puttalam Estuary despite a legislative ban under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and its amendments. The court determined that material contradictions and disputes of fact existed as to whether such illicit activity persisted, which precluded the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus. The holding reaffirmed the principle that a writ of mandamus is inappropriate in situations involving contested facts, and the court directed the relevant authorities to undertake a formal inquiry into ongoing bottom trawling. The application was dismissed without an order a