Dissanayake and Others vs. Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and Others – sllr 2011 volume 2 page 354

The case between Dissanayake and Others (plaintiffs) and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the Forest Department (notably the 7th respondent – Conservator of Forests), and other state agencies addressed whether the non-publication (failure to gazette) of an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) constituted a breach of statutory duty under the National Environmental Act (NEA) and related regulations. It was determined that statutory agencies failed to comply with the NEA’s prescribed procedures following approval of the EIAR, and that the unexplained failure by the Forest Department’s Conservator of Forests to gazette the approved project within the specified legal timeframe amounted to a breach of statutory duty, characterized by unfairness and abuse of power. The ho