Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited and others vs. Central Environmental Authority and others – CA WRIT NO: 21/2018-2022

In the case between Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited and the Central Environmental Authority, the court considered the legality of a private construction within the Thalangama Environmental Protection Area (EPA), and whether statutory authorities failed to act under the National Environmental Act. It was held that construction of a house in the EPA without prior approval from the Central Environmental Authority and other required agencies was not lawful, and the responsible authorities did not discharge their statutory duties in preventing or remedying the unauthorized development. Relying on specific sections (notably 24B, 24C, and 24D) of the National Environmental Act and the Gazette regulations, the court reaffirmed the principle that environmental protection statutes impos