Rohini Manel Hettiarachchi and Walimuni Senaratne Mendis v. Central Environmental Authority and others – SC F.R APPLICATION. NO. 191/17-2018

In the case between Rohini Manel Hettiarachchi, Walimuni Senaratne Mendis, Anura Satharasinghe, and others (Petitioners) and the Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Attorney General, and others (Respondents), the court addressed whether an application alleging infringements of fundamental rights relating to environmental concerns could be entertained when a previous application on the same subject matter had already been adjudicated (SCFR Application No. 54/2017). It was held that the present application was barred under the doctrine of res judicata because the issues, prayers, and documents were substantially identical to the earlier proceedings, and the petitioners had been provided with a prior opportunity to present their case. This judgment reaffir