Nagananda Kodithuwakku v Chandana Sooriyabandara et al – CA WRIT/137/2022-2022

In the case between Nagananda Kodithuwakku and respondents including Chandana Sooriyabandara (Director General, Department of Wildlife Conservation), Chandana Wickramaratne (Inspector General of Police), and Thilak Premathilake (Director General, National Zoological Gardens), the court addressed the legality of the transfer and custody of an elephant calf known as ‘Miyan Kumar’ and the associated licensing and notification processes. The petitioner sought a writ of Mandamus for the transfer of the elephant to an appropriate facility and a writ of Prohibition against the issuance of licenses affecting the custody of elephants, while also challenging the validity of Gazette Extraordinary Notification No. 2241/41 dated 19.08.2021. The court held that the petitioner’s motion to tender addition