Vedda Chief’s case fixed for 13th for support.

The writ petition filed by Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, leader of the indigenous population known as 'Veddas', challenging the clearing of the lands at Pollebedda-Rambakenoya was today (13) fixed for support on September 8 by the Court of Appeal. The respondents including, the RAN Plantations (Pvt) Ltd and the Attorney General, have already filed limited objections against the petition. Uruwarige Wannila Aththo and the Center for Environmental Justice filed this petition seeking an interim order staying the validity of approvals granted to Mahaweli Authority for the proposed Agriculture, Livestock Development Project. The RAN Plantations (Pvt) Ltd informed the Court of Appeal that the Company utilised abandoned lands harnessed for chena cultivation. Filing this petition through counsel Ravindranath Dabare, the petitioners cited Central Environmental Authority, Mahaweli Development Authority, Department of Forests, Department of Wild Life Conservation, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, RAN Plantations (Pvt) Ltd and several others as respondents.