July 12, Colombo: The Supreme Court today fixed date to hear a writ petition filed against the construction of an elevated expressway from Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya.

Accordingly, the writ petition filed by the Center for Environmental Justice and two Thalangama residents seeking an interim injunction restraining the construction of an expressway from the new Kelani Bridge to the Athurugiriya across the Malabe, Thalangama wetland, a Ramsar accredited wetland, will be heard on 17th September.

The Thalangama wetlands was declared an Environmental Protection Area (EPA) under the National Environmental Act in 2007 and the Thalangama wetland has been gazetted as an Environmental Protection Area.

The petition was taken up today before a bench of Justices of the Court of Appeal comprising Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola.

The petition was filed by Center for Environmental Justice and Thalangama residents Dinesh Indika Gunasekara and EO Samarakkody.

The petition names the Road Development Authority, its Chairman PP Aluthge, the Central Environmental Authority, its Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe, the Urban Development Authority, its Chairman Harsha de Silva, the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe and the Attorney General as respondents.