Wanninayaka Mudiyanselage Dhanapala and others vs Mr. Nimal Kotawalagedara and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO: 243/2017-2017

In the case between Wanninayaka Mudiyanselage Dhanapala, Wanninayaka Mudiyanselage Wijey Kumarapala, Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited, and Mr. Nimal Kotawalagedara (Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs) among other government officials, the court addressed whether writs of mandamus and prohibition could be issued against officials for not preventing alleged illegal forest clearance and electric fence construction, which was claimed to endanger an elephant habitat and escalate human-elephant conflict. The court determined that writs of mandamus require the precise identification of statutory duties and responsible parties. As the Petitioners did not specify statutory duties breached by each Respondent, the writ application was dismissed. It was reaffirmed that prerogative writs must