BULANKULAMA AND OTHERS

v.
SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERS
(EPPAWELA CASE)

SUPREME COURT
AMERASINGHE, J .
WADUGODAPITIYA, J . AND
GUNASEKERA, J .
SC (FR) APPLICATION NO. 8 8 4 / 9 9
MARCH 15™. 16th. 28™ AND 30th , 2 0 0 0
APRIL 7th , 2000

F undam ental rights - Proposed a greem ent fo r exploration a n d mining

o f p h o sp h a te - E nvironm ental a n d develo p m ent policies applicable to
exp lo ita tio n o f n a tu ra l re so u rc e s - In te rn a tio n a l s ta n d a r d s a n d
requirem ents o f dom estic la w - Contractual provisions calculated to
circum vent local la w s - Denial o f the right o f the public to object to
the proposed a greem ent - Articles 12(1). 14(l)(g) a n d 14(l)(h) o f the
Constitution.

After d isc u ssio n s th a t en d ed on 04. 08. 1997. th e rep re se n ta tiv es of

the G overnm ent a n d F reep o rt Mac M oran of USA a n d its affiliate
IMCO Agrico initialled th e final d ra fts of th e M ineral In v estm en t
A greem ent a n d su b s id ia ry d o c u m e n ts in re sp e c t of a d e p o sit of
-p ho sp h ate “ rock a t E p p a w e la in th e A n u ra d h a p u ra d istric t. .The
proposed ag reem en t g ra n te d th e C om pany th e sole a n d exclusive rig h t
(a) to se a rc h a n d explore for p h o sp h a te a n d o th e r m in erals in the
Exploration A rea (b) to c o n d u c t te s t or pilot o p eratio n s a t any location
w ithin th e C o n tract A rea (c) to develop a n d m ine u n d e r M ining Licences
an y p h o s p h a te d e p o sits (in clu d in g a sso c ia te d m in erals) found in
th e E xploration Area.

The p etitio n ers being re s id e n ts of E ppaw ela engaged in cultivation and

ow ning lan d s th ere, one of w hom w as th e V ih arad h ip ati of a tem ple,
com plained of in frin g em en t of th e ir rig h ts u n d e r Articles 12(1), 14(l)(g)
a n d 14(1 )(h) of th e C o n stitu tio n by re a so n of th e proposed agreem ent.
They relied on th e a n a ly sis of several professional ex p erts a n d re p o rts of
the N ational A cadem y of Science a n d th e N ational Science F o u n d atio n
who w ere of th e opinion th a t th e p ro p o sed ag reem ent will n ot only be an
environm ental d is a s te r b u t an econom ic d isaster.

In resp ect of p relim in ary objections raised on b e h alf of th e re sp o n d e n ts :

2 44 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000] 3 Sri UR.

H eld :
(1 )(i) T he c o u rt h a s ju risd ic tio n in term s of Article 126(1) of the C o n sti­
tu tio n to h e a r a n d d eterm ine th e alleged infringem ent of fun d am en tal
rig h ts n o tw ith sta n d in g th e claim th a t th e G overnm ent an d not the court
is th e “tru stee" of n a tu ra l re so u rc e s of Sri Lanka.

(ii) T he individual p etitio n ers have sta n d in g to p u rsu e th eir rights in

term s of A rticles 17 an d 126(1) of th e C onstitution. They are not
disqualified on th e alleged g ro u n d th a t it is a "public interest" litigation.
The c o u rt is concerned w ith th e rig h ts of individual petitioners even
th o u g h th e ir rig h ts are linked to th e collective rig h ts ol the citizenry oi ari
L anka, rig h ts they sh a re w ith th e people of Sri Lanka.

(iii) T he p etitio n ers a re n o t n on - su ite d w hen they jo in ed in one

app licatio n for invoking th e c o u rt’s ju risd ic tio n u n d e r Article 126. Article
126(2) d oes n o t preclude su c h jo in d e r w here individual rights are based
on th e sam e alleged c ircu m stan ces.

(iv) T he p etition is n o t tim e - b a rre d as it h a s been filed w ithin one

m o n th of th e p etitio n ers' becom ing aw are of the proposed agreem ent
from a n e w sp ap er rep o rt w hich a n n o u n c e d th a t it w as expected to be
signed w ith in two m o n th s.

(v) T he fact th a t leave to proceed w as g ran ted in resp ect of the alleged
in frin g em en t of fu n d a m e n ta l rig h ts does n o t p reclude the co u rt fron.
con sid e rin g w h e th e r th e re w as a n ln tm in e n t infringem ent of rights for.
‘ th e g re a te r c o n ta in s th e leSsT

(2) As re g a rd s th e alleged im m in en t infringem ent of fu n d am en tal

rig h ts in re sp e c t of A rticles 14(l)(h) a n d 14(l)(g), the m aterial placed
before th e c o u rt esta b lish e d :

(a) “E xploration Area" said to be 56 Sq miles, increased by a 10 KM

“Buffer Zone Area" w as c o n tra c tu a lly elastic a n d extendable.
It in clu d ed even th e “P rocessing Area" (within th e “C o n tract
Area") in T rincom alee w hich w ould be equipped w ith a w are­
h o u se an d sh ip p in g facilities. The w hole of C hilaw is also in the
“E xploration A rea”.

(b) “C o n trac t Area" in clu d es V ih aras a n d places of archaeological

value, th e a re a of th e J a y a g a n g a /Y o d a E la Schem e, an cien t
ta n k s , irrig atio n c h a n n e ls a n d th e proxim ity of th e Sri
M ahabodhi a n d R uw anw eli Seya w ithin the C u ltu ral Triangle
a n d a n c ie n t villages. A b o u t 2 6 0 0 fam ilies w ere likely to be
affected.
SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 245
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)_______________

(c) The proposed ag reem en t req u ires th e C om pany to com ply w ith
local law s, viz., th e Crow n L ands O rdinance an d th e N ational
E nvironm ental Law. However, th e rights o f th e public a re
adversely affected in t h a t :

i. th ere is no evidence th a t th e req u isite su b sid iary law s a n d

reg u latio n s have b een m ad e u n d e r s u c h laws.

ii. T he seq u en ce in w hich th e a g reem en t will o p erate is

(1) E xploration for p h o sp h a te m in eral deposits.

(2) Feasibility stu d y in clu d in g a n environm ental im p a c ts tu d y

w hich will be d one by a n in te rn a tio n a l co n su ltin g firm selected
by th e C om pany a n d approved by th e G overnm ent. The
feasibility stu d y a n d th e d evelopm ent plan are "confidential";

(3) C o n stru ctio n ;

(4) O peration; a n d

(5) M arketing.

iii. O nce th e feasibility s tu d y a n d th e developm ent plan are

su b m itte d , th e S ecretary is req u ired to approve it "w ithout
u n re a so n a b le delay". A pparently, th e S ecretary h a s th e pow er
to m ake a decision h aving reg ard to th e rig h ts of th e p u blic
b u t in th e event of a d isp u te th e C om pany will refer it for
A rbitration.

iv. As a g a in st th e c u rre n t ra te of m in in g w hich is a b o u t 4 0 ,0 0 0

m etric to n s of p h o s p h a te p e r a n n u m , u n d e r the ag reem en t, the
a m o u n t will in c re a se to 26.1 m illion m etric to n s w ithin 30
y ears w hich w ould e x h a u s t all proven p h o sp h a te reserves.
P h o sp h ate is a n on - ren ew ab le reso u rce. H ence th e sch em e of
exploration will n o t be in th e in te re s t of fu tu re g en eratio n s. As
p er in te rn a tio n a l n o rm s, n a tu ra l re so u rc e s shall be preserved
for fu tu re g en eratio n s, to m eet th e ir needs.

v. M ining o p eratio n s will leave large p its a n d gullies w hich w ould

provide breed in g g ro u n d s for m o sq u ito es a n d lead to m alaria
a n d J a p a n e s e en cep h alitis. T here is no provision for th e safe
disp o sal of P h o sp h o - G ypsum , a b y -p ro d u ct of th e project
w hich will pollute th e en v iro n m en t. T here is no provision for
th e re sto ra tio n of a re a s affected by m in ing a t th e exp en se of th e
246 Sri Lanka Law Reports [200013 Sri L.R.

p ro sp ecto r an d for term in atio n of th e agreem ent, in default of

resto ratio n . Even th o u g h Mac M oran initialled the agreem ent,
liability is placed on S a ra b h u m y a local Com pany with an
issu e d sh a re cap ital of only Rs. 5 8 .0 0 0 /= .

H eld :
In th e c ircu m stan ces, th ere is a n im m in ent infringem ent of the
petitio n ers' rig h ts g u a ra n te e d by A rticles 14(l)(g) and 14(1 )(h) of the
C on stitu tio n .

3. As reg ard s th e alleged im m in en t infringem ent of fundam ental

righ ts in re sp e c t of Article 12(1). th e m aterial placed before the co urt
estab lish ed :

(a) th e proposed agreem en t does n o t provide for an environm ental

im p act a s required by th e N ational Environm ental Act but
provides for a feasibility an d environm ental stu d y by an
in te rn a tio n a l c o n s u lta n t following exploration for ph o sp h ate
d e p o sits. T h ere is no d ecisio n of a co m p eten t n atio n al
a u th o rity as required by in tern atio n al norm s b u t only an
a s s u ra n c e th a t applicable law will be followed. Legal rights of
th e people are m ere p ap er rights: th e proposed agreem ent is
b ia s e d in fav o u r of th e C o m p an y a n d in th e ev en t of
d isag reem en t lead to arb itra tio n , a n d th e liability is placed on
S a ra b h u m y , a sm all local C om pany.

(b) (i) Project proposal a n d exploration plan are not approved bv a

,/i p ro ject a p p roving ag en cy su c h a s th e C entral Environm ental
A u th o rity in te rm s of th e relev an t regulations. E nvironm ental
im p act a s s e s s m e n t m u s t first be done to the satisfaction of the
C en tral E n vironm ental A uthority w ith notice to the public to
e n ab le public co m m en ts a n d re p re se n tatio n s. If the project is
approved it h a s to be p u b lish ed in th e Gazette.

(ii) T he aforesaid s ta tu to ry provisions have n o t been complied

w ith b u t a n a tte m p t is m ade to c o n tra c t o u t of an obligation to
com ply w ith th e law. T he p ro c e d u re ad o p ted in clu d in g
confidentiality of th e proposed a s s e ssm e n t is calculated to
e x tin g u is h p u b lic p r o te s ts . T h e p ro p o s e d a g re e m e n t
s u b s titu te s th e S ecretary of th e M inistry who is not a project
approving agency in te rm s of th e N ational Environm ental Act.
It also places th e b u rd e n on th e G overnm ent to a s s is t the
C o m pany in o b tain in g th e req u isite licences from the relevant
G overnm ent A uthority: a n d judicial review is replaced by
arb itra tio n .
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 247
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.)________________

Held :
In th e c ircu m stan ces, th e re is a n im m in en t infringem ent of th e
petitio n ers' fu n d a m e n ta l rig h ts u n d e r Article 12(1) of th e C o n stitu tio n .

Per A m erasinghe, J .

“H u m an beings a re a t th e c e n tre of c o n cern s for su sta in a b le

developm ent. They are en titled to a h e a lth y a n d productive life in
h arm o n y w ith n a tu re (Principle 1, Rio De J a n e iro D eclaration). In
o rd er to achieve s u sta in a b le developm ent, en v ironm ental protection
shall c o n stitu te a n integral p a rt of th e developm ent p ro cess a n d
c a n n o t be considered in isolation from it. (Principle 4, Rio De Ja n e iro
D eclaration). In m y view th e p roposed a g reem en t m u s t be considered
in th e light of th e foregoing p rin cip les”

Per A m erasinghe, J .

“David Koten, th e fo u n d e r P re sid e n t of th e People - C en tred

D evelopm ent Forum , once observed T h e C ap italist e c o n o m y ..........
. h a s a potentially fatal ignorance of two su b je c ts. O ne is th e n a tu re
of m oney. The o th e r is th e n a tu re of life. T his ignorance lead s u s to
tra d e aw ay life for m oney, w hich is a b ad barg ain in d e e d ..........M oney
is a n u m b er. Real w ealth is food, fertile lan d , build in g s or o th e r th in g s
th a t s u s ta in u s .............”

C ases referred to :
1. M.C. M ehta v. Kam al N ath (1977) 1 S.C.C. 388
2. Gaboikovo - Nagim aros Project (H u n g ary /S lo v ak ia - The D an u b e
C ase 1997 G eneral list N 9 2 2 5 th S ep tem b er 1997)
3. Illinois Central R. Co v. Illinois 146 U.S. 3 8 7 a t 4 52, 135 S.C t. 110
a t 118 (1892)

APPLICATION for relief for infrin g em en t of fu n d a m e n ta l rights.

R. K.W. G oonesekera w ith R u a n a R a je p a k se a n d A n u sh a D harm asiri for

the p etitioners.
K. Sripavan, DSG, w ith B.J. Tilakaratne, SSC a n d A n u sh a Navaratne,
S . C. for th e l sl to 3 rd, 6 lh a n d 8 th re sp o n d e n ts.
Chulani P anditharatne for th e 4* re sp o n d e n t.
R om esh d e Silva, P.C. w ith H arsha A m a ra sekera a n d S a ra th Caldera for
the 5 th an d 7 th re sp o n d e n ts.
Cur. adv. vult.
248 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri LR.

J u n e 2, 2 0 0 0 .
AMERASENGHE, J .

THE BACKGROUND

A fter soil su rv e y s c o n d u c te d by a te a m of s c ie n tis ts a t

k iru w e lh e n a , w h ic h h a d b e e n se le c te d a s a p ro to ty p e site of
d ry zone, h ig h e le v a tio n la te rite , th e te a m inform ed th e
D irec to r of G eological S u rv e y a b o u t so m e p e c u lia r w e a th e re d
ro c k th e y h a d fo u n d . E a rly in 1971, d u rin g th e Geological
S u rv e y o f th e A n u r a d h a p u r a d istric t, it w a s fo u n d t h a t w h a t
h a d b e e n s u p p o s e d b y th e s c ie n tis ts d u rin g th e soil su rv e y s to
b e “h ig h level fo ssil late rite " w a s really a n ig n e o u s c a rb o n a tite
a p a tite . T h e D e p a rtm e n t of G eological S u rv ey h a d t h u s com e
to “d isc o v e r” a d e p o s it of p h o s p h a te ro ck o c c u rin g in th e form
of th e m in e ra l a p a tite a t E p p a w e la in th e A n u r a d h a p u ra
d istric t.

H av in g re g a rd to th e policies of th e G o v e rn m e n t a t th a t
tim e, it w a s d e c id e d in 1974 t h a t th e u s e of th e E p p aw ela
d e p o s it s h o u ld b e e n tr u s te d to a D ivisional D evelopm ent
C o u n c il (D.D.C.).

A lth o u g h a tria l o rd e r for th e s u p p ly of 5 0 0 to n s w as

p la c e d by th e M in istry o f In d u s tr ie s a n d S cien tific A ffairs a n d
th e o rd e r w a s fulfilled w ith in a b o u t fo u r m o n th s , n o fu rth e r
o rd e rs for p h o s p h a te ro c k w ere placed . T he D .D .C . p ro ject w a s
la te r ta k e n over b y L a n k a P h o s p h a te L td., a c o m p a n y fully
o w n ed b y G o v e rn m e n t, w h ic h w a s s e t u p by th e M in istiy of
In d u s trie s .

In D e c e m b e r 1992, a n o tice c a llin g for p ro p o sa ls to

e s ta b lis h a J o i n t V e n tu re for th e m a n u f a c tu r e of P h o s p h a te
fertilizer u s in g th e a p a tite d e p o s it a t E p p a w e la w a s p u b lis h e d
in lo cal a n d fo reign n e w s p a p e rs . S ix p ro p o s a ls w ere received.
A c o m m itte e a p p o in t e d b y th e C a b in e t, a f t e r h a v in g
c o n s id e re d a n e v a lu a tio n re p o rt, d e c id e d w ith th e a p p ro v a l of
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 249
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.)__________ _____

th e C a b in e t to u n d e rta k e n e g o tia tio n s w ith F re e p o rt M acM oran

R eso u rce P a r tn e r s of U.S.A. (h e re in a fte r re fe rre d to a s F re e p o rt
M acM oran). O n e of th e fa c to rs t h a t a p p e a re d to h a v e b e e n in
fav o u r of F re e p o rt M acM oran w a s t h a t it w a s “o n e o f th e
lea d in g p h o s p h a te fertilizer firm s in th e w o rld .” (P4 p a g e 2).
. A n o th e r w a s t h a t “IMCO A grico (sic.), a n affiliate o f M /S .
F re e p o rt M acM oran, h a d d o n e s tu d ie s a n d w o rk e d o n th e
u tiliz a tio n o f th is p a r tic u la r p h o s p h a te d e p o s it se v e ra l y e a rs
ago a n d th erefo re, th e y h a d th e b e n e fit o f t h a t re s e a rc h ."
(P.4 p ag e 2).

T he n e g o tia tin g c o m m itte e w a s a s s is te d b y r e p r e s e n ta ­

tives from v a rio u s G o v e rn m e n t D e p a r tm e n ts a n d M in istrie s
a n d by a te a m o f e x p e rts.

T he firs t r o u n d of n e g o tia tio n s w a s h e ld fro m 1 7-22

M arch, 1994. T h e re a fte r, w h e n th e p r e s e n t G o v e rn m e n t
to o k office, th e M in iste r o f In d u s tr ia l D e v e lo p m e n t, in a
M e m o ra n d u m d a te d th e 2 8 th o f J a n u a r y , 1995, re p o rte d to
C a b in e t th e p ro g re s s m a d e a n d s o u g h t a n d o b ta in e d th e
ap p ro v a l o f th e C a b in e t to c o n tin u e w ith th e n e g o tia tio n s . A
se co n d r o u n d o f n e g o tia tio n s w e re h e ld from 2 7 -3 1 M arch ,
1995. “M ajor is s u e s " re la tin g to th e a v a ilab ility o f la n d for a
p la n t a t T rin c o m ale e , a n d “th e r e s e ttle m e n t a n d p a y m e n t of
c o m p e n s a tio n to M ahaveli s e ttle r s p re s e n tly living in th e
e x p lo ra tio n a r e a id en tified for th e p ro je c t”, w e re d is c u s s e d
w ith local in s titu tio n s a n d a u th o r itie s (P.4).

O n th e 2 6 th of S e p te m b e r, 1996, th e M in iste r o f I n d u s tr ia l
D evelopm ent re p o rte d to C a b in e t o n th e p ro g re s s m a d e a n d
s o u g h t a p p ro v a l “for c e rta in p a r a m e te r s in r e s p e c t o f so m e key
is s u e s w h ic h c o n tin u e d to re m a in u n re so lv e d ." No in fo rm a tio n
w as fu rn is h e d to c o u rt o n w h a t th e s e is s u e s w e re a n d w h a t
h a d b e e n d e c id e d . W e w ere m ere ly in fo rm e d t h a t C a b in e t
a p p ro v a l w a s receiv ed o n th e 0 2 nd o f O c to b e r, 1996 a n d th a t
th e th ird r o u n d o f n e g o tia tio n s w e re h e ld from D e c e m b e r 2 1 s',
1996. T h e re a fte r, F re e p o rt M acM oran s u b m itte d d r a f ts of
25 0 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri L.R.

th e M in eral In v e s tm e n t A g reem en t a n d o th e r su b s id ia ry
a g re e m e n ts . T h e se w ere s tu d ie d by th e n e g o tia tin g com m ittee
a n d law y ers from th e D e p a rtm e n t of th e A tto rn ey -G en eral “on
th e b a s is of th e p a ra m e te rs laid dow n by th e C a b in e t a n d th e
a p p lic a b le la w s.” (P.4). T h e F re e p o rt M acM oran d ra ft w a s
r e tu r n e d to th e m w ith a m e n d m e n ts . F re ep o rt M acM oran th e n
ra is e d “sev eral is s u e s re g a rd in g th e in te rp re ta tio n of th e key
p a ra m e te rs a n d a lso th e la n g u a g e in th e d ra ft a s a m e n d e d by
th e A tto rn e y G e n e ra l’s D e p a rtm e n t.” (P.4) S u b s e q u e n tly ,
F r e e p o r t M a c M o ra n m e t H er E x c e lle n c y th e P r e s id e n t
w h o t h e r e u p o n d ire c te d M r. B .C . P e re ra (S e c re ta ry to
th e T re a s u ry ), H on. S a r a t h N. Silva (A tto rn ey -G en eral),
M r. K. A u s tin P e re ra (S e c re ta ry , M in istry o f I n d u s tr ia l
D evelopm ent), M r. T h ila n W ijesinghe (C h a irm a n /D ire c to r-
G e n e ral, B o ard of In v e s tm e n t of S ri L anka), a n d Mr. V in cen t
P a n d ita (Senior A dvisor, B o ard of In v e stm e n t of S ri L a n k a a n d
C o n s u l ta n t , M in is try o f I n d u s t r ia l D e v e lo p m e n t) (P.4),
“to c o n d u c t o n e fin al ro u n d of n e g o tia tio n s a n d c le a r an y
o u ts ta n d in g is s u e s a lo n g w ith th e te x ts of th e M ineral
In v e s tm e n t A g re e m e n t a n d s u b s id ia ry a g re e m e n ts .” (P.4). T he
fin al r o u n d of n e g o tia tio n s w a s h e ld from th e 2 8 th o f J u ly , 1997
to th e 0 4 th of A u g u st, 1997 a n d th e final d ra fts of th e M ineral
In v e stm e n t A g re e m e n t a n d s u b s id ia ry d o c u m e n ts w ere ag reed
u p o rT a n d in itia lle d by th e S e c re ta ry , M inistry of In d u s tria l
D e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e re p re s e n ta tiv e s of F re e p o rt M acM oran
a n d IMCO Agrico.

O n th e 17th o f M ay 1998, th e P re sid e n t o f th e N ational

A cad em y o f S c ie n c e s, Prof. V.K. S a m a ra n a y a k e , w ro te to th e
P re s id e n t o f S ri L a n k a (w ith c o p ie s to th e M in ister of S cience
T e c h n o lo g y a n d H u m a n R e so u rc e D e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e
M in iste r of I n d u s tr ia l D ev elo p m en t (P. 10) s ta tin g t h a t th e
C o u n c il of th e A cadem y w a s of th e view

“t h a t th e p ro p o se d p ro je c t in its p re s e n t form is p r e m a tu r e
a s so m e o f th e v ita l d a ta re la tin g to th e a c tu a l size
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 251
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)___________

a n d q u a lity o f th e m in e r a l d e p o s it h a v e n o t b e e n
a d e q u a te ly su rv e y e d a n d e s ta b lis h e d . T h is s h o rtc o m in g
h a d a lso b e e n h ig h lig h te d in th e R ep o rt o f M ay, 1995
o f th e P r e s id e n tia l C o m m itte e a p p o in t e d b y Y o u r
E x c e lle n c y . T h e f e a s ib ility o f t h e P r o je c t c a n b e
c o m p re h en siv e ly a p p ra is e d only w h e n th is v ita l d a ta a re
a v a ilab le . A ccordingly, w e re s p e c tfu lly r e q u e s t Y o u r
E xcellency to d efer th e g r a n t o f a p p ro v a l for th e P ro ject
u n til a com p re h e n siv e a p p ra is a l is u n d e r ta k e n .”

In th e s a m e le tte r, th e P re s id e n t of th e N a tio n a l A cad em y

of S c ien c e s s ta te d t h a t th e C o u n c il h a d a lso e x a m in e d o th e r
re la te d is s u e s a n d t h a t th e re c o m m e n d a tio n s , in c lu d in g
o p tio n s , w e re e la b o r a te d in th e r e p o r t o f th e N a tio n a l
A cadem y of S c ie n c e s w h ic h w a s fo rw ard e d to th e P re s id e n t of
S ri L anka.

In a n e w s p a p e r a rtic le e n title d "Exploitation o f E p p a w e la

rock p h o sp h a te deposit", (P. 10(a)), Prof. V.K. S a m a r a n a y a k e
s ta te d a s follows:

“T h e N a tio n a l A c a d e m y o f S c ie n c e s is th e h ig h e s t
m u lti-d is c ip lin a ry sc ie n tific o rg a n iz a tio n in S ri L a n k a .
Its m a n d a te in c lu d e s , “to ta k e c o g n iz a n c e a n d re p o rt
o n i s s u e s in w h i c h s c i e n t i f i c a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l
c o n s id e ra tio n s a re p a r a m o u n t to th e n a tio n a l in te re s t" ,
a n d “to a d v ise o n th e m a n a g e m e n t a n d r a tio n a l u tiliz a tio n
o f th e n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s o f th e isla n d so a s to e n s u r e
o p tim al p ro d u ctiv ity , c o n s is te n t w ith c o n tin u e d u s e of th e
b io sp h e re o n a lo n g te rm b a s is ta k in g in to a c c o u n t th e
r e p e rc u s s io n s o f u s in g a p a r tic u la r re s o u rc e o n o th e r
re s o u rc e s a n d th e e n v iro n m e n t a s a w hole, a n d to h e lp
in m a k in g u s e o f r e s o u r c e s of th e c o u n tr y in n a tio n a l
d e v e lo p m e n t.”

Prof. S a m a ra n a y a k e w e n t o n to s a y th a t.
252 Sri Lanka Law Reports I2000J 3 Sri UR.

“A ccordingly, th e A cadem y s tu d ie d th e p ro p o sa l from

a ll a n g le s a n d s u b m itte d its re p o rt to H er Excellency
th e P re s id e n t in M ay 1998. T h e p ro ject p ro p o sa l w as
e x a m in e d in re la tio n to (a) th e d e p o sit a n d p ro p o se d ra te
o f e x p lo ita tio n ; (b) p ro p o sa l to m a n u fa c tu re fertilizer
lo c a lly ; (c) e n v ir o n m e n t a l c o n s id e r a t io n s ; a n d (d)
eco n o m ic a n d so c ia l c o n sid e ra tio n s."

O n th e 2 3 rd of J u ly , 1999, a c o m m ittee of tw elve s c ie n tis ts

of th e N a tio n a l S c ien c e F o u n d a tio n s u b m itte d a re p o rt u n d e r
th e title “T he optim al u se o f E p p a w e la rock p h o sp h a te in Sri
L an kan agriculture.” (P. 12). H aving o b serv ed t h a t th e p ro p o sa l
of th e U .S. M ining C o m p a n y “in th e view of m a n y of th e
P ro fe ssio n a l A s so c ia tio n s in th e c o u n try , e.g. T he In s titu tio n
of E n g in e e rs, I n s titu te o f C h e m istry , N ational A cadem y of
S c ie n c e s a n d m o s t in d iv id u a l s c ie n tis ts a n d e n g in e e rs is
h ig h ly d is a d v a n ta g e o u s to th e c o u n try a n d w ith highly a d v erse
e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c ts ”, th e c o m m ittee e x a m in ed v a rio u s
p ro p o s a ls m a d e a n d s u g g e ste d o p tio n s w h ic h in its view “are
m o re a d v a n ta g e o u s to th e c o u n tr y .”

O n th e 8 th of O c to b e r, 1999, th e se v en p e titio n e rs filed a n

a p p lic a tio n in th is C o u rt u n d e r A rticle 17 re a d w ith A rticle 126
o f th e C o n s titu tio n . T h e C o u rt (F e rn a n d o , W ad u g o d ap itiy a
a n d G u n a s e k e ra , J J .) o n th e 2 7 th o f O c to b e r 1999 g ra n te d th e
se v e n p e titio n e rs leave to p ro c e e d w ith th e ir a p p lic a tio n for
d e c la ra tio n s a n d reliefs a ris in g from th e alleged in frin g e m e n t
of th e ir f u n d a m e n ta l rig h ts g u a ra n te e d by A rticles 12(1),
14(l)(g), a n d 14(l)(h) of th e C o n s titu tio n .

JURISDICTION

In th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t, it is a ck n o w led g ed in th e
“In tr o d u c tio n ” t h a t “T h e m in e ra l r e s o u rc e s c o n ta in e d in th e
te rrito rie s of S ri L a n k a c o n s titu te a p a r t of th e n a tio n a l w e a lth
of S ri L a n k a .”
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 253
________________Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts , w ith
w h o m th e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l a s s o c ia te d h im s e lf,
s u b m itte d t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t, a n d n o t th is C o u rt, is th e
“t r u s t e e ” o f th e n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s o f S ri L a n k a . “T h u s , a s lo n g
a s th e G o v e rn m e n t a c ts c o rre c tly th e C o u rt will n o t p u t its e lf
in th e s h o e s o f th e G o v e rn m e n t. T h a t is to s a y th e C o u r t m a y
o r m a y n o t a g re e w ith th e fin a l o u tc o m e . H ow ever, if th e
G o v e rn m e n t h a s c o rre c tly a c te d a s tr u s te e th e C o u rt will n o t
in te rfe re ,” It w a s f u r th e r s u b m itte d t h a t th e p e titio n s s h o u ld
b e d ism iss e d in lim ine, s in c e th e p e titio n e rs h a d in v o k e d th e
f u n d a m e n ta l rig h ts ju r is d ic tio n o f th e C o u rt in a m a tte r t h a t
w a s “e ith e r a p u b lic in te r e s t litig a tio n o r b r e a c h o f t r u s t
litig a tio n .”

1 a m u n a b le to a c c e p t th o s e s u b m is s io n s .

T h e C o n s titu tio n d e c la re s t h a t so v e re ig n ty is in th e P eople

a n d is in a lie n a b le . (A rticle 3). B e in g a r e p r e s e n t a ti v e
d e m o c rac y , th e p o w e rs of th e P eople a re e x e rc ise d th r o u g h
p e rs o n s w ho a re for th e tim e b e in g e n tr u s te d w ith c e rta in
fu n c tio n s. T he C o n s titu tio n s ta t e s t h a t th e leg isla tiv e p o w e r of
th e People s h a ll b e e x e rc ise d b y P a rlia m e n t, th e e x e c u tiv e
p o w er o f th e People s h a ll b e e x e rc is e d by th e P re s id e n t of
S ri L a n k a , a n d th e ju d ic ia l p o w e r of th e P eople s h a ll b e
e x e rc is e d , in ter a lia , t h r o u g h t h e C o u r t s c r e a te d a n d
e s ta b lis h e d by th e C o n s titu tio n . (Article 4). A lth o u g h le a rn e d
c o u n s e l for th e p e titio n e rs , c itin g M.C. M eh ta u. K a m a lN a th '11,
a g re e d w ith le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts
t h a t th e n a tu r a l r e s o u rc e s o f th e P eople w ere h e ld in " tr u s t ” for
th e m by th e G o v e rn m e n t, h e d id n o t s u b s c r ib e to th e view t h a t
th e C o u rt h a d n o role to play. In a n y e v e n t, h e c h a lle n g e d
th e r e s p o n d e n ts ’ claim t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t h a d in fa c t a c te d
“p ro p e rly ” in d is c h a rg in g its role a s “tru s te e " .

T h e o rg a n s of S ta te a re g u a r d ia n s to w h o m th e p e o p le
h a v e c o m m itte d th e c a re a n d p re s e rv a tio n o f th e r e s o u r c e s
of th e people. T h is a c c o rd s n o t only w ith th e s c h e m e o f
g o v e rn m e n t s e t o u t in th e C o n s titu tio n b u t a ls o w ith th e h ig h
254 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR.

a n d e n lig h te n e d c o n c e p tio n s o f th e d u tie s of o u r ru le rs , in th e

e ff ic ie n t m a n a g e m e n t o f r e s o u r c e s in th e p r o c e s s of
d e v e lo p m en t, w h ic h th e M a h a v a m sa , 6 8 .8 -1 3 , s e ts fo rth in
th e follow ing w ord s:

“H aving t h u s reflected , th e K ing t h u s a d d re s s e d h is

officers.

In m y K ingdom a re m a n y p a d d y fields c u ltiv a te d by m e a n s

of r a in w a te r, b u t few in d e e d a re th o s e w h ic h a re c u ltiv a te d by
p e re n n ia l s tr e a m s a n d g re a t ta n k s .

By ro c k s , a n d b y m a n y th ic k fo re sts, by g re a t m a r s h e s is
th e la n d covered.

In s u c h a c o u n try , let not eve n a sm a ll q u a n tity o f w a te r

o b ta in e d b y rain, go to the se a , w ith ou t benefitting man.

P a d d y fields s h o u ld b e fo rm ed in every p lace, e x c lu d in g

th o s e o nly th a t p ro d u c e ge m s, gold, a n d o th e r p re c io u s th in g s.

It d o e s not becom e p e r s o n s in our situ ation to live enjoying

our o w n e a se , a n d unm indful o f th e in te re sts o f the peo p le . . . "

T r a n s la tio n by M u d a liy a r L. de Z oysa, Journal o f the R oyal

A sia tic S o ciety (C.B.), Vol. Ill, No. IX. (The e m p h a s is is m ine).

In th e c a s e c o n c e r n in g t h e G a b c ik o v o -N a g im a r o s
p ro je c t (H u n g a ry /S lo v a k ia ), - th e D an u be c a se 121, before th e
In te r n a tio n a l C o u rt o f J u s ti c e , th e V ic e -P re sid e n t of th e C o u rt,
J u d g e C.G. W e e ra m a n try , re fe rre d a t le n g th to th e a n c ie n t
irrig a tio n w o rk s of S ri L a n k a w h ic h , h e sa id , “em b o d ied th e
c o n c e p t o f d e v e lo p m e n t p a r excellen ce.” He said:

“J u s t a s d e v e lo p m e n t w a s th e a im o f th is sy ste m , it w a s
a c c o m p a n ie d by a s y s te m a tic p h ilo so p h y of c o n s e rv a tio n
d a tin g b a c k to a t le a s t th e th ir d c e n tu r y B.C. T he a n c ie n t
c h ro n ic le s re c o rd t h a t w h e n th e K ing (D ev an am p iy a T is s a ,
2 4 7 -2 0 7 B.C.) w a s o n a h u n tin g trip (a ro u n d 2 2 3 B.C.),
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 255
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)___________ _

th e A ra h a t M a h in d a , s o n o f th e E m p e ro r A so k a o f In d ia ,
p re a c h e d to h im a s e rm o n w h ic h c o n v e rte d th e King. H ere
a re e x c e rp ts fro m t h a t s e rm o n ; “O g r e a t King, th e b ird s of
th e a ir a n d th e b e a s ts h a v e a s e q u a l a rig h t to live a n d
m ove a b o u t in a n y p a r t o f th e la n d a s th o u . T h e la n d
b e lo n g s to th e peo p le a n d all living b e in g s; th o u a r t only
th e g u a r d ia n o f it." . . . T h e ju x ta p o s itio n in th is h e rita g e
~ ot th e c o n c e p ts o f d e v e lo p m e n t a n d e n v ir o n m e n ta l
p r o te c tio n in v ite s c o m m e n t im m e d ia te ly fro m th o s e
fam iliar w ith it. A nyone in te r e s te d in th e h u m a n f u tu r e
w o u ld p erceiv e th e c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n th e tw o c o n c e p ts
a n d th e m a n n e r of th e ir re c o n c ilia tio n . N ot m e re ly fro m
th e legal p e rsp e c tiv e d o e s th is b e c o m e a p p a r e n t, b u t ev e n
from th e a p p ro a c h e s o f o th e r d isc ip lin e s. T h u s A r th u r C.
C la rk e , th e n o te d f u tu r is t, w ith th e v isio n t h a t h a s e n a b le d
h im to b rin g h ig h sc ie n c e to th e se rv ice of h u m a n ity , p u t
h is fin g er o n th e p re c ise legal p ro b le m w e a re c o n s id e rin g
w h e n h e o b se rv e d : “th e s m a ll In d ia n O c e a n Isla n d . . .
p ro v id e s te x tb o o k e x a m p le s o f m a n y m o d e m d ile m m a s:
d e v e lo p m e n t v e r s u s e n v i r o n m e n t”, a n d p r o c e e d s
im m e d ia te ly to re c a p itu la te th e fa m o u s s e rm o n , a lre a d y
re fe rre d to, re la tin g to th e tr u s te e s h ip o f la n d , o b se rv in g ,
“F o r a s K ing D e v a n a m p iy a T is s a w a s told th re e c e n tu r ie s
b efore th e b ir th of C h rist, w e a re its g u a r d ia n s - not its
o w n e rs. ” T h e ta s k o f th e la w is to c o n v e rt s u c h w isd o m in to
p ra c tic a l te r m s . . . ” r

I h a v e n o t b e e n a b le to find th e s e rm o n re fe rre d to.

H ow ever T is sa , w h o d e p e n d e d o n th e s u p p o r t of E m p e ro r
A soka, a n d ev en a d d e d to h is n a m e th e title o f h is p a tro n ,
“D e v a n a m p iy a ", w o u ld h a v e h a d little o r n o h e s ita tio n in
a c c e p tin g th e ad v ice of A s o k a ’s e m is s a ry , M a h in d a . T h e
s u b je c t o f la n d te n u r e in S ri L a n k a , in c lu d in g th e s ta tu s ,
c la im s, a n d rig h ts o f th e M o n a rc h w ith re g a rd to th e soil, is a n
e x tre m e ly co m p le x o n e a s , for in s ta n c e , th e d e b a te s o n v a rio u s
m a tte r s b e tw e e n H.W. C o d rin g to n a n d J u l i u s d e L an ero lle
sh o w ed . (See Jou rn al o f th e R o ya l A sia tic S o ciety (C eylon
25 6 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR.

Branch). VoL XXXIV, P.199 sq., P.220 sq., P.226 sq.) F or th e

p r e s e n t lim ited p u rp o s e , w h a t I do w is h to p o in t o u t is th a t
th e r e is ju s tific a tio n in lo o k in g a t th e c o n c e p t of te n u re , n o t a s
a th in g in itself, b u t r a th e r a w ay o f th in k in g a b o u t rig h ts a n d
u s a g e s a b o u t la n d . H.W. C o d rin g to n , Ancient Land Tenure and
Revenue in Ceylon, p p .5 -6 , re fe rs to th e fa c t t h a t th e King w as
bhupati or bhupala - ‘lord of th e e a r th ’, ‘p ro te c to r of th e e a r th ’
- ‘lo rd - adhipati - o f th e field s of a ll’. He q u o te s M oreland w ith
a p p ro v a l in s u p p o r t of th e view t h a t a t first, th e q u e s tio n of
‘o w n e rs h ip ’ w a s o f little o r n o sig n ifican ce. M o relan d w ro te a s
follows: “T ra d itio n a lly th e r e w ere tw o p a rtie s , a n d only tw o, to
b e ta k e n in to a c c o u n t; th e s e p a rtie s w e re th e r u le r a n d th e
s u b je c t, a n d if a s u b je c t o c c u p ie d la n d , h e w a s re q u ire d to pay
a s h a r e o f its g ro s s p ro d u c e to th e r u le r in r e tu r n for th e
p ro te c tio n h e w a s e n title d to receive. It will b e o b se rv e d th a t
u n d e r t h is s y s te m th e q u e s tio n of o w n e rs h ip of la n d d o e s n o t
a rise : th e s y s te m is in fa c t a n te c e d e n t to t h a t p ro c e s s of
d is e n ta n g lin g th e c o n c e p tio n of p riv a te rig h t from political
a lle g ia n c e w h ic h h a s m a d e so m u c h p ro g re s s d u r in g th e la s t
c e n tu iy , b u t is n o t ev e n n o w fully a c c o m p lis h e d . . .” L ater,
g ra n te e s , in g e n e ra l, it s e e m s w ere given th e e n jo y m e n t of
la n d s for se rv ic e s re n d e re d o r to b e re n d e re d in c o n s id e ra tio n
o f th e ir h o ld in g s, o r la n d s w ere given for p io u s a n d p u b lic
p u r p o s e s u n r e la te d to a n y r e tu r n . F o r th e ir p a rt, g ra n te e s
w ere u n d e r a n o b lig a tio n to m a k e p ro p e r u s e of th e la n d s
c o n s is te n t w ith th e g r a n t or, in d e fa u lt, su ffe r th e ir lo ss or
in c u r p e n a ltie s .

T h e p u b lic t r u s t d o c trin e , relied u p o n by le a rn e d c o u n s e l

o n b o th s id e s, s in c e th e d e c is io n in Illinois Central R. Co. v.
IUinois131, c o m m e n c in g w ith a re c o g n itio n o f p u b lic rig h ts in
n a v ig a tio n a n d fis h in g in a n d c o m m e rc e over c e rta in w a te rs,
h a s b e e n e x te n d e d in th e U n ite d S ta te s o n a c a s e b y c a s e b a sis.
N e v e rth e le s s , in m y view , it is c o m p a ra tiv e ly re s tric tiv e
in sc o p e a n d I s h o u ld p re fe r to c o n tin u e to look a t o u r
r e s o u r c e s a n d th e e n v iro n m e n t a s o u r a n s c e s to r s did , a n d o u r
c o n te m p o ra rie s do, rec o g n izin g a s h a r e d re sp o n sib ility .
 SC Bulankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 25 7
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

T h e C o n s titu tio n to d a y rec o g n ize s d u tie s b o th o n th e

p a r t of P a rlia m e n t a n d th e P re s id e n t a n d th e C a b in e t of
M in iste rs a s well a s d u tie s o n th e p a r t o f “p e r s o n s ”, in c lu d in g
ju r is tic p e rs o n s like th e 5th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts . A rticle 27(14)
s ta te s t h a t “T h e S ta te s h a ll p ro te c t, p re s e rv e a n d im p ro v e th e
e n v iro n m e n t for th e b e n e fit _of th e c o m m u n ity .” A rticle 28(f)
s ta te s t h a t th e e x e rc ise a n d e n jo y m e n t o f rig h ts a n d fre e d o m s
(su c h a s th e 5 th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts c la im e d in le a rn e d
c o u n s e l’s s u b m is s io n s o n th e ir b e h a lf to p ro te c tio n u n d e r
A rticle 12 o f th e C o n s titu tio n re la tin g to e q u a l p ro te c tio n o f th e
law) “is in s e p a ra b le fo rm th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f d u tie s a n d |l
o b lig a tio n s, a n d a c co rd in g ly it is th e d u ty o f ev ery p e rs o n in S ri f\
L a n k a to p ro te c t n a tu r e a n d c o n s e ry g -its r ic h e s ,”

T h e loose u s e of legal te r m s like “t r u s t ” a n d “t r u s t e e ”, is

a p t, a s th is c a s e h a s sh o w n , to le a d to fa lla c io u s re a s o n in g .
A ny q u e s tio n o f th e legal o w n e rsh ip o f th e n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s o f
th e S ta te b e in g v e s te d in th e E x e c u tiv e to b e h e ld o r u s e d for
th e b e n e fit o f th e peo p le in te r m s o f th e C o n s titu tio n is a t le a s t
a rg u a b le . T h e E x e c u tiv e d o e s h a v e a s ig n ific a n t ro le in
re s o u rc e m a n a g e m e n t c o n fe rre d by law , y et, th e m a n a g e m e n t
of n a tu r a l r e s o u rc e s h a s n o t b e e n p la c e d ex clu siv ely in th e
h a n d s of th e E xecutive. T h e e x e rc ise of E x ecu tiv e p o w e r is
s u b je c t to ju d ic ia l review . M oreover, P a rlia m e n t m ay , a s it h a s
clone o n m a n y o c c a s io n s , le g isla te o n m a tte r s c o n c e rn in g
n a tu r a l re s o u rc e s , a n d th e C o u r ts h a v e th e ta s k of in te r p re tin g
s u c h leg isla tio n in giving effect to th e will o f th e p eo p le a s
e x p re s s e d by P a rlia m e n t.

In a n y ev en t, th e is s u e b efo re m e is n o t th e q u e s tio n
w h e th e r th is C o u rt o r th e “G o v e rn m e n t” is a “tru s te e " , a n d
w h e th e r th e re h a s b e e n a b r e a c h o f tr u s t, b u t w h e th e r in th e
c ir c u m s ta n c e s of th e in s t a n t c a s e th e rig h ts of th e p e titio n e rs
g u a r a n te e d by A rticles 12(1), 14(l)(g) a n d 14(l)(h) o f th e
C o n s titu tio n h a v e b e e n v io lated . A nd in t h a t re g a rd th e
ju r is d ic tio n of th is C o u rt is p u t b e y o n d a n y d o u b t by A rticle
126(1) o f th e C o n s titu tio n w h ic h s ta te s , a m o n g o th e r th in g s ,
25 8 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR.

t h a t th e S u p re m e C o u rt h a s “sole a n d exclusive ju ris d ic tio n to

h e a r a n d d e te rm in e a n y q u e s tio n re la tin g to th e in frin g e m en t
o r im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t b y ex ecu tiv e o r a d m in is tra tiv e
a c tio n o f a n y fu n d a m e n ta l rig h t . . T h e C o u rt is n e ith e r
a s s u m in g a ro le a s “tr u s te e ” n o r u s u r p in g th e p ow ers of a n y
o th e r o rg a n of G o v e rn m e n t. It is d isc h a rg in g a d u ty w h ic h h a s
in th e c le a re s t te r m s b e e n e n tr u s te d to th is C o u rt, a n d th is
C o u rt a lo n e , by A rticle 126(1) o f th e C o n s titu tio n .

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5th a n d 7 th re s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d

th a t, b e in g a n alleged “p u b lic in te r e s t litig a tio n ” m a tte r, it
s h o u ld n o t b e e n te r ta in e d u n d e r p ro v isio n s of th e C o n s titu tio n
a n d s h o u ld b e re je c te d . I m u s t c o n fe ss s u rp ris e , for th e
q u e s tio n o f ‘p u b lic in te r e s t litig a tio n ’ really involves q u e s tio n s
o f s ta n d in g a n d n o t w h e th e r th e re is a c e rta in k in d of
rec o g n ize d c a u s e o f action. T h e C o u rt is c o n c e rn e d in th e
in s t a n t c a s e w ith th e c o m p la in ts of in d iv id u a l p e titio n e rs. O n
th e q u e s tio n of s ta n d in g , in m y view, th e p e titio n e rs, a s
in d iv id u a l citiz e n s, h a v e a C o n s titu tio n a l rig h t given by A rticle
17 r e a d w ith A rticles 12 a n d 14 a n d A rticle 126 to be before th is
C o u rt. T hey a re n o t d isq u a lifie d b e c a u s e it so h a p p e n s t h a t
th e ir rig h ts a re lin k e d to th e collective rig h ts o f th e c itiz e n ry of
S ri L a n k a - r ig h ts th e y s h a r e w ith th e p eo p le of S ri L an k a.
M oreover, in th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s of th e in s ta n t c a se , s u c h
collective rig h t s p rovide th e c o n te x t in w h ic h th e alleged
in frin g e m e n t o r im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t o f-th e p e titio n e rs ’
f u n d a m e n ta l rig h ts o u g h t to b e c o n sid e re d . It is in th a t
c o n n e c tio n t h a t th e c o n fid e n t e x p e c ta tio n (tru st) t h a t th e
E x e c u tiv e will a c t in a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e law a n d a c c o u n ta b ly ,
in th e b e s t in te r e s ts of th e p eo p le of S ri L a n k a , in c lu d in g th e
p e titio n e rs , a n d f u tu r e g e n e ra tio n s o f S ri L a n k a n s , b e c o m e s
re le v a n t.

MAY THE SEVEN PETITIONERS JOIN IN A SINGLE

APPLICATION?

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d

t h a t “se v e ra l p e titio n e rs c a n n o t jo in in o n e a p p lic a tio n in
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 259
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)__________________

te rm s o f A rticle 126 of th e C o n s titu tio n .” A d m itted ly , A rticle

126(2) r e f e rs to “a n y p e r s o n ”, “s u c h p e r s o n ” a n d “h e
m a y h im s e lf . H ow ever, th e C o u rt h a s n o t c o n s tr u e d th e s e
p h r a s e s so a s to p re c lu d e th e jo in in g o f se v e ra l p e titio n e rs
w h e re th e ir in d iv id u a l r ig h ts a re b a s e d o n th e s a m e alleged
c irc u m s ta n c e s ; in fact, th e p ra c tic e o f th e C o u rt p o in ts in th e
o th e r d ire c tio n . I th e re fo re h o ld t h a t th e p e titio n e rs a re n o t
n o n -s u ite d o n th e g ro u n d o f m isjo in d e r. •

IS THE APPLICATION OUT OF TIME?

T he re s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d t h a t th e a p p lic a tio n m u s t

b e re je cte d , s in c e it h a s b e e n m a d e o u t of tim e. H ow ever, n o
in d ic a tio n w a s given b y th e r e s p o n d e n ts o f th e d a te fro m w h ic h
th e p e rio d of o n e m o n th sp ecified b y A rticle 126(2) is to b e
re c k o n e d . T h e r e s p o n d e n ts a t th e s a m e tim e m a in ta in t h a t
th e re c a n b e n o c o m p la in t o f a n in frin g e m e n t o r im m in e n t
in frin g e m e n t of rig h ts “u n le s s a n d u n til th e D e v e lo p m e n t P la n
is in p la c e ”, for it is t h a t d o c u m e n t w h ic h w o u ld s h o w w h a t
rig h ts , if a n y , h a v e b e e n o r a re a b o u t to b e in frin g e d . If th e re
h a s b e e n n o in frin g e m e n t o r im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t, it s e e m s
to m e t h a t th e r e s p o n d e n ts a re e n title d to call for th e d is m is s a l
of th e p e titio n o n th e g ro u n d t h a t th e p e titio n e rs h a v e failed to
e s ta b lis h th e ir c a se . It c a n n o t, how ever, b e m a in ta in e d t h a t
th e p e titio n is too la te , u n le s s it is c o n c e d e d t h a t th e c a s e w a s
rip e o r m a tu r e for h e a rin g . T h e p e titio n c a n n o t b e p r e m a tu r e
a n d too la te a t th e s a m e tim e, for th e la tte r p o s itio n a s s u m e s
t h a t a lth o u g h th e m a tte r w a s rip e o r m a tu r e for c o n s id e ra tio n ,
th e p e titio n e r failed to a c t w ith in th e p re s c rib e d tim e. A
s u b s ta n tia l p a r t o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts ' c a s e w a s b a s e d o n th e
s u b m is s io n t h a t th e p e titio n e rs ' c a s e w a s p r e m a tu r e a n d
“c o n je c tu r a l”. I s h a ll d e a l w ith th e r e s p o n d e n ts ’ s u b m is s io n s
in t h a t re g a rd la te r o n . B u t for th e p r e s e n t, in d e a lin g w ith
th e th re s h o ld q u e s tio n o f w h e th e r th e p e titio n is o u t of tim e,
w h a t I h a v e a lre a d y s ta te d a n d w h a t I s h a ll s ta te in th e n e x t
p a r a g r a p h , s h o u ld , I t h in k , b e s u f f ic ie n t to m e e t th e
s u b m is s io n o f th e r e s p o n d e n ts .
260 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri LR.

In a d d itio n to p o in tin g o u t th e in c o n s is te n t p o sitio n s of

th e r e s p o n d e n ts o n th e q u e s tio n u n d e r c o n s id e ra tio n , nam ely,
w h e th e r th e p e titio n w a s o u t of tim e, th e p e titio n e rs ex p lain ed
t h a t th e re w a s c o n s id e ra b le u n c e rta in ty a b o u t th e s ta t u s of
th e p ro je c t in q u e s tio n , w ith “in c o n s is te n t sig n a ls ” b e in g given
by th e G o v e rn m e n t form tim e to tim e o n t h a t m a tte r, b o th in
re s p o n s e to p u b lic p r o te s ts , a n d c ritic a l o b s e rv a tio n s from
s c ie n tis ts , in c lu d in g th o s e of th e N a tio n a l S cien ce F o u n d a tio n
in th e ir r e p o rt to th e M in iste r of S c ien c e a n d T echnology in
J u ly 1999. T h e M in iste r h a d a s k e d th e N a tio n a l S cience
F o u n d a tio n for advice, a n d h a v in g re g a rd to th e o b se rv a tio n s
m a d e by th e F o u n d a tio n , it w a s n o t u n r e a s o n a b ly exp ected
t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t w o u ld n o t p ro ce e d w ith th e p ro ject. T h ere
w a s s u c h u n c e r ta in ty a b o u t th e m a tte r, t h a t it m ig h t have
b e e n p r e m a tu r e for th e p e titio n e rs to co m e in to C o u rt earlier,
H ow ever, w h e n a n e w s p a p e r re p o rt, (D o c u m e n t P.13) d a te d
th e 2 6 th of S e p te m b e r 1999, a n n o u n c e d t h a t th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t re la tin g to th e p ro je c t, w h ic h h a d b e e n in itia lle d in
1997, follow ing n e g o tia tio n s t h a t h a d go n e o n sin c e 1994, w as
e x p e c te d to b e s ig n e d w ith in tw o m o n th s , th e p e titio n e rs filed
t h e ir p e titio n o n 0 8 O c to b e r, 19 9 9 . T h e im p e n d in g o r
th r e a te n in g d a n g e r o f th e v io la tio n of th e p e titio n e rs ’ rig h ts
re a c h e d a su ffic ie n t fu lln e s s o n th e 2 6 th of S e p te m b e r 1994.

In th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , I h o ld t h a t th e a p p lic a tio n w as
filed in tim e w ith in th e m e a n in g of A rticle 126(2) of th e
C o n s titu tio n .

LEAVE TO PROCEED WAS FOR INFRINGEMENT NOT FOR

IMMINENT INFRINGEMENT.

T h e p e titio n e rs w e re g r a n te d leave to p ro ce e d for th e

alleg ed infringem ent of A rtic les 12(1), 14(l)(g) a n d 14(l)(h) a n d
n o t for th e alleg ed im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t o f th e ir rig h ts. T he
fa c t t h a t leave to p ro c e e d w a s g ra n te d for “in frin g e m e n t” d o es
n o t p re c lu d e th e C o u rt fro m c o n s id e rin g w h e th e r th e re w a s a n
im m inent infringem ent, for om n e m qju s con tinet in s e m inus -
th e g r e a te r c o n ta in s th e le ss. T h is C o u rt, h a v in g g r a n te d leave
 sc Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 261
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

to p ro c e e d for th e alleg ed in frin g e m e n t of a f u n d a m e n ta l rig h t,

a n d th e re b y b e in g e m p o w e re d by th e C o n s titu tio n to d o th e
m o re im p o rta n t a c t o f c o n s id e rin g w h e th e r a n in frin g e m e n t
h a d ta k e n p lace, c a n n o t b e d e b a rre d from d o in g th e le s s
im p o rta n t th in g of c o n s id e rin g w h e th e r th e re is a n im m in e n t
in frin g e m e n t, for non debt cui plus licet quod minus est non
licere o r a s it is s o m e tim e s e x p re s s e d , cui licet quod majus non
debt quod minus est non licere - a d o c trin e fo u n d e d o n c o m m o n
s e n s e , a n d o f g e n e ra l a p p lic a tio n .

THE ALLEGED IMMINENT VIOLATION OF ARTICLES

14(1)(G) A im 14(1)(H) OF THE CONSTITUTION.

A rticle 14(l)(g) of th e C o n s titu tio n s ta t e s th a t every c itiz e n

is e n title d to th e fre e d o m to e n g a g e b y h im s e lf o r in a s s o c ia tio n
w ith o th e r s in a n y law fu l o c c u p a tio n , p ro fe s s io n , tr a d e , b u s i ­
n e s s o r e n te rp ris e . A rticle 14(l)(h) s ta t e s t h a t every c itiz e n is
e n title d to th e fre e d o m o f m o v e m e n t a n d o f c h o o s in g h is
re s id e n c e w ith in S ri L a n k a . T h e p e titio n e rs a r e c itiz e n s o f S ri
L a n k a a n d re s id e n ts o f th e a r e a c a lle d E p p a w e la in th e
A n u r a d h a p u r a D is tric t in th e N o rth C e n tra l P rovince. T h e firs t
to fifth p e titio n e rs a re la n d o w n e rs a n d / o r p a d d y a n d d a iry
fa rm e rs in th e E p p a w e la a re a . T h e s ix th p e titio n e r is a te a c h e r
a n d th e o w n e r of a n e x te n t o f c o c o n u t la n d in th e E p p a w e la
a re a . T h e first to s ix th p e titio n e rs s ta t e t h a t th e y a r e in d a n g e r
o f lo sin g th e w hole o r s o m e p o rtio n o f th e ir la n d s a n d
th e ir m e a n s of livelihood if th e p ro p o se d m in in g p ro je c t is
im p le m e n te d . T h e s e v e n th p e titio n e r is th e V ih a ra d h ip a th i o f
th e G a lk a n d a P u r a n a V ih a ra y a w h e re h e h a s re s id e d fo r over
3 5 y e a rs . H e s ta t e s t h a t th e V ih a ra y a a n d th e p a d d y la n d s t h a t
s u s ta i n it a re in d a n g e r of b e in g d e s tro y e d if th e p ro p o s e d
m in in g p ro je c t is im p le m e n te d . T h e p e titio n e rs c o m p la in of
a n im m in e n t in f r in g e m e n t o f t h e i r f u n d a m e n ta l r ig h ts
g u a r a n te e d b y A rtic les 14(l)(g) a n d 14(l)(h).

THE AREA AFFECTED

T h e p e titio n e rs ’ st& te t h a t th e in itia l e x p lo ra tio n a r e a will

b e 5 6 s q u a r e k ilo m e tre s w ith -a te n k ilo m e tre b u ffe r z o n e o n
26 2 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000} 3 Sri L.R.

e a c h sid e, b rin g in g to a b o u t 8 0 0 s q u a re k ilo m e tre s th e a re a

p o te n tia lly affected. T h ey s ta te t h a t a b o u t 2 ,6 0 0 fam ilies
o r 1 2 ,0 0 0 p e rs o n s , in c lu d in g th e m se lv e s, a re likely to be
p e rm a n e n tly d isp la c e d from th e ir h o m e s a n d la n d s .

T h e r e a r e o n ly s e v e n p e r s o n s w h o h a v e filed th is
a p p lic a tio n ; b u t it m u s t n o w beco m e c le a re r w hy I s a id th a t
th e ir claim s w ere lin k e d to th e collective rig h ts of o th e rs a n d
t h a t fh e alleg ed in frin g e m e n t of th e p e titio n e rs ’ in d iv id u al
rig h ts n e e d to b e view ed in th e c o n te x t o f th e rig h ts g u a ra n te e d
to th e m n o t only a s falling w ith in th e m e a n in g of “all p e rso n s",
a s for in s ta n c e w ith in th e m e a n in g of A rticle 12(1) of th e
C o n s titu tio n , b u t in p a rtic u la r a s m e m b e rs of th e citizen ry of
S ri L a n k a .

T h e n e g o tia tin g c o m m itte e a p p o in te d by th e P re sid e n t

s ta t e s in its re p o rt to th e P re s id e n t (P.4 a t P.5) t h a t “th e
e x p lo ra tio n a r e a will cover a p p ro x im a te ly 56 sq. m iles (sic.)
o f la n d s itu a te d in E p p a w e la in th e A n u r a d h a p u r a D istrict",
a n d t h a t th e B uffer Z one A rea “will c o m p rise of a la n d
a r e a e x te n d in g to 10 k ilo m e tre s from th e b o u n d a rie s of th e
e x p lo ra tio n a re a ." T h a t is a m is le a d in g s ta te m e n t, for in te rm s
o f th e A g re e m e n t th e “e x p lo ra tio n a r e a ” is far in e x c e ss of
5 6 sq. m iles. In d ee d , a s w e s h a ll see, th e P re s id e n t’s c o m m ittee
a c c e p ts th e fac t t h a t th e e x p lo ra tio n a r e a w a s n o t a b so lu te ly
lim ite d to 5 6 sq. m iles: It w a s c o n tra c tu a lly e la stic a n d
e x te n d a b le .

I a g re e w ith le a rn e d C o u n s e l for th e re s p o n d e n ts th a t
th e r e is a s y e t n o “A g reem en t" stricto sen su . A rticle 2.1
of th e p ro p o se d M in eral In v e s tm e n t A g reem en t, so m e tim e s
h e re in a f te r re fe rre d to for th e s a k e of co n v en ien ce, a s th e
“A g re e m e n t”, d e s c rib in g th e “b a s ic ” rig h ts of th e C o m p an y ,
s ta te s , inter alia, a s follows: “W ith o u t lim ita tio n o n th e o th e r
rig h ts c o n fe rre d o n th e C o m p a n y b y th is A g reem en t, th e
C o m p a n y s h a ll hav e, a n d th e G o v e rn m e n t h e re b y g r a n ts to th e
C o m p a n y , s u b je c t to th e o th e r te r m s a n d c o n d itio n s specified
in th is A g re e m e n t, th e sole a n d e x c lu siv e rig h t (a) to s e a rc h
for a n d ex p lo re for p h o s p h a te a n d o th e r m in e ra ls in th e
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o j Industrial 263
Development and Others lAmerasinghe, J.)________________

E x p lo ra tio n A rea . . . (b) to c o n d u c t p ilo t o r t e s t o p e ra tio n s a s

a p p ro p ria te a t a n y lo c a tio n w ith in th e C o n tr a c t A re a (w ith o u t
lim itin g th e C o m p a n y ’s o p tio n of c o n d u c tin g s u c h p ilo t o r te s t
o p e ra tio n s e n tire ly o r p a rtia lly a t o th e r lo c a tio n s); (c) to
develop a n d m in e u n d e r M ining L ic en c e s a n y p h o s p h a te
d e p o s it ( in c lu d in g p h o s p h a te m in e r a l s a n d A s s o c ia te d
M inerals) fo u n d in th e E x p lo ra tio n A re a . . . "

A rticle 1 o f th e A g re e m e n t d e fin e s “E x p lo ra tio n A re a ” a s

“t h a t c e rta in a r e a o f la n d w h ic h fo rm s p a r t o f th e C o n tr a c t A rea
a n d w h ic h in itia lly c o v e rs a p p ro x im a te ly 5 6 sq . vk m s . of
la n d a n d is s e t fo rth a n d d e s c rib e d a s th e E x p lo ra tio n A re a
o n A n n e x e s “B - l ” a n d “C - l ” h e re to in r e s p e c t o f w h ic h
E x p lo ra tio n L icen ces h a v e b e e n is s u e d u n d e r th e A ct to L a n k a
P h o s p h a te a n d / o r G eo R e s o u rc e s L a n k a (Pvt.) L td ., a s s u c h
a r e a m a y b e r e d u c e d o r e x te n d e d a s sp e cific a lly p ro v id e d for
in th is A g re e m e n t.” “E x p lo ra tio n ” is d e fin e d in th e A g re e m e n t
a s “th e s e a r c h for a p a tite a n d o th e r p h o s p h a te m in e r a ls u s in g
geological, g e o p h y sic a l, a n d g e o c h e m ic a l m e th o d s a n d by b o re
h o les, t e s t p its , tre n c h e s , s u rfa c e o r u n d e r g r o u n d h e a d in g s ,
d rifts o r t u n n e ls in o r d e r to lo c a te th e p r e s e n c e of e c o n o m ic
a p a tite o r o th e r p h o s p h a te m in e ra l d e p o s its a n d to fin d o u t
th e ir n a tu r e , s h a p e a n d g ra d e , a n d t h i s t e r m in c lu d e s
“A d v a n c e d E x p lo ra tio n ” in te r m s o f th e M in in g (L icensing)
R e g u la tio n s , No. 1 o f 1 9 9 3 . T h e v e r b “e x p lo r e ” h a s a
c o rre s p o n d in g m e a n in g .”

T he v a rio u s a c tiv itie s fallin g w ith in th e d e fin itio n o f

“E x p lo ra tio n ” is, in te r m s o f th e A g re e m e n t, n o t c o n fin e d to a n
a r e a of 5 6 sq. k m s. T h a t, in te r m s o f th e d e fin itio n , is th e
a r e a co v e re d “in itia lly ”, b u t o n e t h a t m a y b e “e x te n d e d a s
sp ecifically p ro v id e d for in th is A g re e m e n t.” It is s ta te d in
A rticle 2.1 o'f th e A g re e m e n t to b e a “b a s ic r ig h t” o f th e
C o m p a n y “to c o n d u c t p ilo t o r te s t o p e ra tio n s a s a p p r o p r ia te a t
a n y location w ith in th e C on tract A re a w ith o u t lim iting th e
C o m p a n y ’s option o f con du cting su c h p ilo t or te s t o p era tio n s
en tirely or p a r tia lly a t o th er location s.” So, E x p lo ra tio n m a y
e x te n d to th e C o n tr a c t A rea. T h e A g re e m e n t d e fin e s “C o n tr a c t
264 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri UR.

A re a ” to m e a n “th e la n d s in c lu d e d w ith in th e E x p lo ra tio n A rea

a n d th e P ro c e s s in g A rea a s in c lu d e d w ith in th e E x p lo ra tio n
A rea a n d th e P ro c e s s in g A rea a s d e sc rib e d o n A n n e x e s “B - 1”
a n d “B -2 ” h e re to a n d d e p ic te d o n th e m a p s s e t fo rth a s
A n n e x e s “C - 1” a n d “C -2 ” h e re to , w ith in w h ic h th e a c tiv itie s of
th e e n te r p ris e a re to ta k e p lac e , a s from tim e to tim e re d u c e d
o r e x te n d e d in a c c o rd a n c e w ith th is A g re e m e n t.” “P ro c essin g
A re a ” is d e fin e d in th e A g re e m e n t to m e a n “th a t c e rta in a re a
o f la n d w h ic h fo rm s p a r t of th e C o n tra c t A rea a n d w h ic h is se t
fo rth a n d d e s c rib e d a s th e P ro c e ssin g A rea o n A n n e x e s “B-2"
a n d “C -2 ” h e re to , a s s u c h a r e a m ay b e a m e n d e d , revised or
re p la c e d in a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e p ro v is io n s of th is
A g re e m e n t, w h ic h a r e a m a y b e u s e d for p ro c e ssin g , sh ip p in g ,
d o c k in g , te rm in a llin g , s to ra g e , s to c k p ilin g a n d all o th e r
re la te d a c tiv itie s a n d o p e ra tio n s .” “P ro cessin g " is d efin ed in
th e A g re e m e n t a s “th e c ru s h in g , b e n e fic a tio n , c o n c e n tra tio n
o r o th e r tr e a tm e n t o f p h o s p h a te m in e ra ls a n d A sso c ia te d
M in e ra ls b y p h y s ic a l, c h e m ic a l, or o th e r p ro c e s s in c o n n e c tio n
w ith th e m a n u f a c tu r e o f p r o d u c ts b u t d o e s n o t in c lu d e th e
s m e ltin g a n d re fin in g o f m e ta ls . T h e v e rb “p ro c e s s ” h a s
a c o rre s p o n d in g m e a n in g .”

T h u s , in te r m s o f th e A g reem en t, th e a c tiv itie s falling

w ith in th e d e fin itio n o f “E x p lo ra tio n ”, m a y ta k e p lac e , n o t only
w ith in th e 5 6 sq. k m s ., n o t only w ith in th e “E x p lo ra tio n A rea",
b u t a lso w ith in th e “P ro c e s s in g A re a ” w h ic h ev e n in c lu d e s
T rin c o m ale e . In fac t, th e r e p o r t o f trie P re s id e n t’s C o m m ittee
s ta te s a t P .6 t h a t th e “P ro c e s s in g A rea will b e T rin c o m ale e
w h e re th e p ro c e s s in g p la n t, w a re -h o u s e , d o ck , te rm in a l a n d
s h ip p in g a re lo c a te d .”

It m ig h t be n o te d t h a t in te r m s of A rticle 2 .5 , if th e
P ro c e s s in g A rea id e n tifie d a t th e tim e of th e sig n in g of th e
A g re e m e n t w a s fo u n d to b e u n s u ita b le a fte r th e feasib ility
s tu d y , th e G o v e rn m e n t p le d g e s to u s e “its b e s t e ffo rts” to lo cate
o th e r la n d s t h a t a re s u ita b le .

A rticle 2 .4 o f th e M in e ra l In v e s tm e n t A g re e m e n t s ta te s a s
follows: “N o tw ith s ta n d in g th e e x is te n c e o f th is A g re e m e n t a n d
 SC Bulankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 265
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.J________________

th e fa c t th a t th e C o m p a n y will c o n tro l a sig n ific a n t a r e a o f la n d

for th e e x p lo ra tio n for a n d p o s s ib le d e v e lo p m e n t o f p h o s p h a te
m in e ra l d e p o s its a s a r e s u lt o f th is A g re e m e n t, th e C o m p a n y
s h a ll re m a in eligible to a p p ly fo r a n d o b ta in E x p lo ra tio n a n d
M ining L icen ces o n la n d s o u ts id e th e E x p lo ra tio n A rea . . . In
th e e v e n t th e C o m p a n y d o e s o b ta in E x p lo ra tio n a n d / o r
M ining L ic e n c e s c o v erin g la n d s w ith in th e B u ffer A re a s u c h
la n d s s h a ll b e a d d e d to th e E x p lo ra tio n A re a a n d tre a te d in a ll
r e s p e c ts a s p a r t o f th e E x p lo ra tio n A re a (an d M in in g A rea, if a
D e v e lo p m e n t P la n is a p p ro v ed ) a n d a s lic e n c e s w h ic h a re
s u b je c t to th e p ro v isio n s o f th is A g re e m e n t.”

T h e r e p o r t by th e P re s id e n t’s C o m m itte e s ta te s : “T h e
C o m p a n y will hav e, a rig h t to e x te n d th e ir a c tiv itie s in to th e
b u ffe r zo n e a s well, if fo u n d n e c e s s a ry . ” T h e re is n o d e fin itio n
in th e A g re e m e n t of “B u ffer Z o n e”, how ever, th e r e p o r t o f th e
P re s id e n t’s C o m m itte e s ta t e s a t P .6 t h a t “B uffer Z one A re a ”
“will c o m p rise a la n d a r e a e x te n d in g to 10 k ilo m e tre s fro m th e
b o u n d a rie s of th e e x p lo ra tio n a re a . T h e C o m p a n y will h a v e a
rig h t to e x te n d th e ir e x p lo ra tio n a c tiv itie s in to th e b u ffe r zo n e
a s w ell, if fo u n d n e c e s s a r y .” In d e e d , (1) s in c e th e “E x p lo ra tio n
A re a ” in te r m s o f th e A g re e m e n t, a s w e h a v e se e n , e x te n d s to
th e “P ro c e s s in g A rea”, a n d (2) s in c e in te r m s of A rticle 2.1 o f th e
A g re e m e n t it is ac k n o w led g e d t h a t th e C o m p a n y s h a ll h a v e th e
“b a s ic ” rig h t n o t only to c o n d u c t p ilo t o r te s t o p e ra tio n s a t a n y
lo c a tio n w ith in th e C o n tr a c t A rea b u t w ith o u t lim itin g th e
C o m p a n y ’s o p tio n o f c o n d u c tin g s u c h p ilo t o r te s t o p e ra tio n s
e n tire ly o r p a rtia lly a t o th e r lo ca tio n s", th e a re a o f o p e ra tio n
ev e n a t th e " E x p lo ra tio n ” s ta g e is v ery v a s t in d e e d a n d
e x te n d a b le , in te rm s o f th e A g re e m e n t, in “th e C o m p a n y 's
o p tio n ." R eference is m a d e to th e re d u c tio n o r e x te n s io n of
e x p lo ra tio n o r P ro c e s s in g A reas; ho w ev er, r e d u c tio n in te r m s
of A rticle 6 .3 is a m a tte r for th e C o m p a n y to d e c id e . T h e
G o v e rn m e n t h a s n o s a y in th e m a tte r . R e g a rd le ss o f m a p s
d e m a r c a tin g th e “E x p lo ra tio n A re a ” d r a w n o n th e b a s is of w h a t
G o v e rn m e n t officials w ere g iv en to u n d e r s ta n d , th e te r m s
of th e A g re e m e n t leave th e a r e a of “E x p lo ra tio n " w ide a n d
p ra c tic a lly u n r e s tric te d . No e x p lo ra tio n m a y b e c o n te m p la te d
266 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR.

in a n y a r e a o u ts id e th e a r e a s d e m a rc a te d in th e m a p s , b u t th e
te r m s o f th e a g re e m e n t m a d e “E x p lo ra tio n A rea” a t le a s t a n
a rg u a b le m a tte r. If th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t is sig n ed , it w ould
leave th e re s o lu tio n of a d is p u te o n t h a t m a tte r to b e s e ttle d by
a r b itr a tio n in te r m s of A rticle xx of th e A greem ent.

SETTLERS AND THE AFFECTED AREA

In th e ir fin a l w ritte n s u b m is s io n s o n b e h a lf of th e l st-3 rt,

6 th a n d 8 th r e s p o n d e n ts , m a d e a fte r th e o ral h e a rin g , le a rn e d
c o u n s e l s u b m itte d t h a t “D u rin g th e e x p lo ra tio n p eriod th e
in h a b ita n ts of th e a re a will n o t b e d isp la c e d n o r th e ir la n d s will
b e a ffe c te d .” A m a p (D o c u m e n t x), p re p a re d by th e D irecto r of
th e G eological S u rv e y a n d M ines B u re a u w a s a n n e x e d to th e
s u b m is s io n s u n d e r th e c a p tio n “T h e a r e a re se rv e d for m in e ra l
e x p lo ra tio n s u p to [the] 3 1 st J u ly , 1999." T h e m a p is a m a p of
S ri L a n k a sh o w in g th re e a r e a s of d e m a rc a tio n :

“(1) th e a r e a o f 5 6 sq. km . re se rv e d for th e p ro p o se d p h o s p h a te

p ro ject;

(2) A re a s re s e rv e d p re s e n tly for m in e ra l e x p lo ra tio n s (8514

sq. km .);

(3) T h e a r e a s w h e re d e ta il e x p lo ra tio n s h a v e b e e n c a rrie d

o u t d u r in g th e p a s t th re e y e a rs (1839 sq. km .). N either
a n y com plain ts or d a m a g e to the en viron m ent h ave been
r e c e iv e d nor a n y p e r s o n h a s b een d is p la c e d d u e to
exploration a c tiv itie s .” (The e m p h a s is is m ine).

T h a t m a p w a s n o t p ro d u c e d u n til a fte r th e c o n c lu s io n of
th e o ra l s u b m is s io n s . W h e n a n d w h y w a s it p re p a re d ? O n
th e b a s is o f D o c u m e n t X, th e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l said:
“O n e c o u ld see fro m X ’ t h a t th e w h o le of C h ilaw to w n h a s b e e n
p a r t of th e e x p lo ra tio n a r e a (sic.). T h e refo re, it is resp e c tfu lly
s u b m itte d t h a t n o h a r m will o c c u r e ith e r to th e in h a b ita n ts
o f th e a r e a o r to th e e n v iro n m e n t d u r in g th e e x p lo ra tio n
p e rio d . In th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , it is re s p e c tfu lly u rg e d th a t th e
a p p lic a tio n o f th e p e titio n e r a t th is m o m e n t is p r e - m a tu r e .”
 SC Bularikulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 267
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

W h a t is th e fa te o f C h ilaw a n d o th e r a r e a s re fe rre d to in
d o c u m e n t X ? W as th e a g e n d a of th e G eological S u rv e y a n d
M ines B u r e a u m a d e k n o w n to th e peo p le o f th e a ffected a re a s ?
T he D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l h a s n o t s ta te d t h a t th e p e o p le of
th e a r e a s d e m a rc a te d in D o c u m e n t X h a v e b e e n m a d e a w a re
of th e in te n tio n s o f th e G eological S u rv e y a n d M in es B u re a u ,
a n d , in th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , h is s u b m is s io n s t h a t th e p eo p le
living w ith in th e p ro p o se d e x p lo ra tio n a r e a s in d o c u m e n t X
h a v e m a d e n o p r o te s ts , a n d t h a t th e re fo re th e p e titio n e rs
c a n n o t o b jec t to e x p lo ra tio n is u n s o u n d , for th e y a re n o t
c o m p a ra b le s itu a tio n s . H a s it b e e n p u b lic ly a n n o u n c e d t h a t
e x p lo ra tio n , a s d e fin e d in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t, will be
c a rrie d o u t in C h ilaw a n d o th e r a r e a s s h o w n in D o c u m e n t X?

In h is affidavit, th e 1st r e s p o n d e n t s ta te s , 4. (a) “T h e

a p a tite d e p o s its w e re d isc o v e re d in 1971 a n d p a r t o f th e
d e p o s it is to th e N o rth of th e J a y a G a n g a , w h ic h c o n s is t of
C row n la n d s (sic.) only; (b) th e a re a to th e s o u th of J a y a G a n g a
h a s b e e n e x c lu d e d fro m th e M ah aw eli S e ttle m e n t S c h e m e a n d
re se rv e d fo r th e a p a tite /P h o s p h a te P ro je c t in view o f th e sa id
disco v ery in 1971. A ccordingly th e re a re n o legal s e ttle m e n ts
in th e a r e a .” T h is, a s w e s h a ll see is flatly c o n tra d ic te d by
A rticle 17.3 of th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t w h ic h I h a v e q u o te d
below . At th e h e a rin g , h e p ro d u c e d a m a p th r o u g h th e D e p u ty
S o lic ito r-G e n era l. W ith h is affidavit h e s u b m itte d a P la n of
“th e k n o w n d e p o s its a r e a ” p re p a re d b y th e G eological S u rv e y
D e p a rtm e n t a n d s ta te d t h a t th e 7 th p e titio n e r ’s te m p le w a s
“n o t w ith in th e k n o w n d e p o s it a re a ."

A c c o rd in g to th e m a p , th e r e d o n o t a p p e a r to b e
i n h a b ita n ts o n w h a t is m a rk e d a s th e “K now n D e p o sit A re a ”
s o u th of w h a t is m a rk e d a s th e “K alaw eva R.B. M ain C h a n n e l",
w h ic h th e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l c o n firm e d is th e J a y a
G a n g a re fe rre d to b y th e 1st r e s p o n d e n t. L e a rn e d c o u n s e l, for
th e 5 th a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts a n d th e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l
s ta te d th a t n o o n e w a s living o n th e re s e rv e a n d th a t, th e re fo re ,
o n th e k n o w n d a ta , th e r e will b e n o re lo c a tio n .
268 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri L.R.

H ow ever, th e q u e s tio n a s fa r a s th e 7 th p e titio n e r a n d th e

o th e r p e titio n e rs a re c o n c e rn e d is n o t w h e th e r th e ir la n d s w ere
o n th e “k n o w n d e p o s it a r e a ”, b u t w h e th e r th ey w ere w ith in th e
“E x p lo ra tio n A re a ”, in c lu d in g th e a re a s o u th of th e J a y a
G an g a. H aving re g a rd to th e G rid m a p (P.6 a n d 5 R2), th e
p e titio n e rs ’ la n d s a re in th e follow ing s q u a r e s a n d fall
w ith in th e e x p lo ra tio n a re a : 1 5 7 3 3 2 (1st p e titio n er); 157329
(2nd p e titio n e r); 1 5 7 3 2 9 (3rd p e titio n e r); 1 5 7 3 2 7 /1 5 6 3 2 7
(4th p e titio n e r); 1 5 7 3 2 9 (5th p e titio n e r); 1 5 7 3 2 7 /1 5 8 3 2 7
(6th p e titio n er); 1 5 7 3 2 8 (7th p etitio n er).

T h e 1st r e s p o n d e n t s u g g e s te d t h a t , in view o f th e
im p e n d in g p h o s p h a te p ro je c t, n o s e ttle rs w ere lo ca ted u n d e r
th e M ahaw eli p ro je c t in th e a r e a e a rm a rk e d for th e p h o s p h a te
p ro je c t. H ow ever, in th e m a p fu rn is h e d to u s , th e re a re
“M ahaw eli S e ttle r s ” w ith in th e d e m a rc a te d “E x p lo ra tio n Area"
s o u th o f w h a t is m a r k e d a s th e “K alaw ew a M ain R.B.
C h a n n e l”. In d ee d , th e m a p it s e e m s h a d b e e n p re p a re d for
th e v ery p u rp o s e o f id en tify in g M ahaw eli S e ttle rs , w ho a re
o b v io u sly n o t, a s th e 1st r e s p o n d e n t s u g g e s te d , illeg al
o c c u p a n ts o f la n d s . T h e c a p tio n of th e m a p is “P h o s p h a te
P ro je c t a t E p p a w e la - A re a fallin g w ith in s y s te m ‘H’ of
M ahaw eli P ro je c t.” A n o th e r m a p p ro d u c e d by th e D ep u ty
S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l - th e “B uffer A rea M ap” - a g rid m a p - sh o w s
a n o th e r “k n o w n D e p o sit” n o r th of w h a t is m a rk e d a s th e
“K alaw ew a M ain R.B. C h a n n e l.” W h e n t h a t m a p is re a d w ith
th e “P h o s p h a te P ro je c t a t E p p a w e la etc. M ap”, ‘M ahaw eli
S e ttle rs ’ a p p e a r to b e living in t h a t a re a a s well.

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d

t h a t “th e r e a re n o p e r s o n s living in th e E x p lo ra tio n A re a ”, a n d
t h a t th e re fo re th e r e will b e n o n e e d for re lo c a tio n , a n d t h a t no
V ih a ra y a s , h o m e s o r villag es will b e d a m a g e d . He s ta te d th a t
“As a t p r e s e n t in te r m s of th e k n o w n g iven re s e rv e s a n d
in fe rre d re s e rv e s n o o n e a t a ll will b e re lo c a te d . U ntil th e
fea sib ility r e p o rt is d o n e th e r e will b e no w ay a t all in fin d in g
o u t w h e th e r in te r m s of th is p ro je c t a n y b o d y will b e r e lo c a te d .”
 SC Bulankukuna and Others u. Secretary, Ministry.of Industrial 269
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

T h e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n era l s ta te d t h a t th e a p p lic a tio n of th e

p e titio n e rs w a s “p r e m a tu r e ”, for th e d e p o s its h a d n o t b e e n
id en tified a n d e x p lo ra tio n h a d n o t b e e n c o m m e n c e d . It w a s
only a fte r th e feasib ility s tu d y t h a t th e p e rs o n s a ffected a n d
e x te n t o f e n v iro n m e n ta l d a m a g e c o u ld b e a s s e s s e d .

F ro m th e p o in t o f view o f im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t a s
d is tin g u is h e d from in frin g e m e n t th e ir s u b m is s io n s a re n o t
s u p p o rte d by th e e v id e n c e p ro v id e d b y th e m a p s s u b m itte d
to u s esp ec ially w h e n re a d w ith th e d e fin itio n a n d flexible
d e s c rip tio n of “e x p lo ra tio n a r e a ” in th e A g re e m e n t re fe rre d to
above.

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l’s s u b m is s io n s , a s w ell a s th e a s s e r tio n s

o f th e 1st r e s p o n d e n t in h is affid av it, a re a ls o a t v a ria n c e w ith
th e r e p o rt o f th e P r e s id e n t’s C o m m itte e . A t p p .3 -4 o f t h a t
re p o rt, a tte n tio n is d ra w n to th e fa c t t h a t d u r in g th e firs t r o u n d
of n e g o tia tio n s c o n d u c te d by th e n e g o tia tin g c o m m itte e
p re v io u sly a p p o in te d by th e C a b in e t, o n e o f th e “m a jo r is s u e s ”
t h a t h a d to b e d i s c u s s e d w ith “lo c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d
a u th o ritie s " “re la te d to th e r e s e ttle m e n t a n d p a y m e n t of
c o m p e n s a tio n o f M ah aw eli s e ttle r s p r e s e n tly living in th e
e x p lo ra tio n a r e a id e n tifie d for th e p ro je c t.” T h e P r e s id e n t’s
C o m m itte e n o te s t h a t “D is c u s s io n s h a v e a ls o b e e n h e ld w ith
th e M ah aw eli A u th o rity o f S ri L a n k a a n d w ill h e lp to d e te rm in e
a n e x p lo ra tio n a r e a w h ic h w ill le a s t d is tu r b th e s e ttle m e n ts .
H ow ever, w h e re , r e - s e ttle m e n t h a s to ta k e p la c e c o n s e q u e n t to
d is p la c e m e n t, a d e q u a te c o m p e n s a tio n w ill b e p a id to th e
s e ttle r s a n d th e c o s ts w ill b e m e t b y th e J o in t V e n tu re
C o m p a n y .”

A rticle 17.3 of th e p ro p o s e d a g re e m e n t a c k n o w le d g e s b o th
th e fa c t t h a t th e r e a re s e ttle r s s o u th o f th e J a y a G a n g a a n d th e
fa c t t h a t th e y a n d o th e r p e r s o n s m a y b e a ffected b y m in in g
o p e ra tio n s . T h e A rticle s h o w s n o t o n ly t h a t th e p e titio n e rs a n d
o th e r s m a y b e affe c te d b u t t h a t if th e y a re , th e p a r a m o u n t
c o n s id e ra tio n will b e th e in te r e s ts o f th e C o m p a n y r a t h e r th a n
th o s e o f th e o c c u p a n ts o f th e a ffe c te d a re a s .
270 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000] 3 Sri LR.

17.3 “T he G overnm ent a n d th e C om pan y a ck n o w led g e that

ifM ining is con d u cted w ithin th e portion o f the Exploration A rea
lo c a te d s o u th of th e M ahaw eli D istric t A u th o rity ’s m a in c a n a l
w h ic h flow s th ro u g h th e E x p lo ra tio n A rea, the occupants
o f su ch la n d m a y 'b e directly affected. O ccu p ied a re a s a re
in d ic a te d o n th e m a p is a tta c h e d h e re to a n d m a d e a p a r t h e re o f
a s A n n e x “K”. To th e e x te n t t h a t th is a r e a is in c lu d e d w ith in th e
M ining A re a a n d c o n s titu te s p a r t of th e a re a to b e m in e d u n d e r
th e C o m p a n y ’s D ev elo p m en t P la n w h ic h is ap p ro v e d by th e
G o v e rn m e n t in a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e p ro c e d u re s s e t fo rth in
A rticle VII, a n d th e C om pan y d eterm in es th a t it is n e c e ssa ry to
relocate su ch o ccu pan ts in o rd e r to a c c o m m o d a te M ining s u c h
a re a , th e n th e C o m p a n y will p a y th e c o s ts of s u c h re lo c a tio n s
a n d th e G overnm ent w ill u se its b e s t efforts to fa c ilita te the
relocation o f a n y in h a b ita n ts o f su ch la n d a s re q u e ste d b y the
C om pan y in a m a n n er w h ich d o e s not crea te a n u n du efin an cial
b u rden on th e C om pan y or d e la y th e C o m p a n y ’s d eve lo p m e n t
a n d operation o f th e M ining A rea. The G overnm ent w ill a lso u se
its b e s t efforts to coordin ate w ith th e M a h aw eli A uthority a n d
a n y o th er G overn m en t au th ority having ju risd ictio n over su ch
la n d s in o rd er to im plem en t su ch relocations in a n o rd erly a n d
efficien t m a n n e r , to m in im ize o r e lim in a te th e s e ttle m e n t
w ith in th is a re a , a n d to c a u se th e rem oval a t m inim al c o st to the
C o m p a n y of s q u a tt e r s h a v in g n o legal o r p o s s e s s o ry rig h ts. In
c o n n e c tio n w ith th e foregoing, th e G o v e rn m e n t s h a ll u s e all
r e a s o n a b le e ffo rts to m in im iz e o r e lim in a te th e s e ttle m e n t
w ith in th is a r e a o f n e w in h a b ita n ts d u r in g th e te rm of th is
A g reem en t.

A s to oth er p a r ts o f th e M ining A re a w h e re th e C om pan y

d ete rm in e s th a t “r e s e ttle m e n t” is n e c e ssa ry , th e G overnm ent
a n d th e C om pan y a c k n o w le d g e th a t on ly s m a ll n u m bers o f
p e r s o n s in h abit su c h la n d s. A s to th e s e o th e r la n d s w h ere
relocation is d e te rm in e d to b e n e c e s s a r y b y th e C om pany, th e
s a m e re lo c a tio n p ro v isio n s a s s e t fo rth a b o v e will a p p ly a n d the
G overn m en t w ill u tilize its b e s t efforts to m in im iz e o r e lim in a te
a n y s e ttle m e n t o f p e r s o n s o r fam ilies o n s u c h o th e r la n d s
d u r in g th e te rm o f th is A g re e m e n t.
 sc Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry.of Industrial 271
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)____________ ___

In th e ev e n t t h a t th e C o m p a n y w is h e s to re lo c a te p e rs o n s
in o c c u p a tio n o r p o s s e s s io n of p riv a te la n d a n d n o t w ith in th e
sc o p e o f th e re lo c a tio n sp ecifically p ro v id ed for ab o v e in th is
s e c tio n 17.3, s u c h re lo c a tio n s h a ll b e effected o n te r m s to b e
a g re e d b e tw e e n th e C o m p a n y a n d th e o w n e rs o f s u c h p riv a te
la n d .” (The e m p h a s is is m ine).

A p a rt from th e M ah aw eli s e ttle r s in th e m o re r e c e n t

v illages e s ta b lis h e d a s p a r t o f th e M ahaw eli D e v e lo p m e n t
S y ste m ‘H’ p ro je c t, th e r e a re r e s id e n ts o f n u m e r o u s a n c ie n t
v illages (p u r a n a g a m j, b o th in th e “E x p lo ra tio n A re a ” a n d th e
B uffer Zone. A dm ittedly, th e s c a le o f d is p la c e m e n tw illd e p e n d
on th e feasib ility s tu d y . T h a t d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t a t th e p r e s e n t
tim e it c a n b e c o n fid e n tly a s s e r te d , a s le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e
r e s p o n d e n ts did, t h a t no re lo c a tio n will ta k e p lac e , n o r c a n it
b e d e n ie d t h a t so m e d is p la c e m e n t is likely, - a c o n c lu s io n , a s
w e h a v e se e n , t h a t u n d e r s ta n d a b ly tro u b le d th e n e g o tia tin g
c o m m itte e a p p o in te d by th e C a b in e t, a lth o u g h th e y s e e m to
h a v e b e e n p re o c c u p ie d w ith th e fa te of th e M ah aw eli s e ttle rs .

PETITIONERS’ FEARS UNFOUNDED?

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts a n a ly s e d
th e A g re e m e n t a n d s a id th e r e w e re five s ta g e s 'in th e p ro je c t:
(a) e x p lo ra tio n ; (b) fe a sib ility s tu d y ; (c) c o n s tr u c tio n ; (d)
o p e ra tin g ; (e) m a rk e tin g . M ining, w h ic h c o u ld c a u s e d a m a g e ,
h e sa id , “is d o n e o n ly a t th e o p e ra tin g s ta g e ”. T h e re w a s
no n e e d to feel a n y a p p r e h e n s io n a t th e E x p lo ra tio n a n d
F e a sib ility S tu d y S ta g e s , w h ic h is w h a t th e sig n in g o f th e
p ro p o se d A g re e m e n t w o u ld le a d to. It is o n ly w h e n th e
e x p lo ra tio n a n d fe a sib ility s tu d y a r e d o n e , th e a p p ro v a l o f all
th e s ta tu to r y a u th o iiitie s a re o b ta in e d , a n d th e S e c re ta ry
a c c e p ts th e fe a sib ility re p o rt, t h a t th e C o m p a n y w ill b e
p e rm itte d to p ro c e e d to th e c o n s tr u c tio n a n d m in in g p h a s e s o f
th e p ro je c t. E x p lo ra tio n , h e s a id , “only m e a n s s e a r c h a n d
lo c a tio n of th e p r e s e n c e o f e c o n o m ic a p a tite a n d o th e r
27 2 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri L.R.

p h o s p h a te m in e ra l d e p o s its a n d to find o u t th e ir n a tu r e a n d
g ra d e .” T h e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n era l e x p re s s e d a sim ila r view.

T h e e x p lo ra tio n c o n te m p la te d by th e re s p o n d e n ts m ay,
p e rh a p s , b e of a n o n -in tru s iv e n a tu r e . How ever, th e defin itio n
of “e x p lo ra tio n ” in th e p ro p o se d A g reem en t, a s we have se en ,
in c lu d e s th e s e a rc h for c e rta in m in e ra ls , a n d th e ir lo cation,
n a tu r e a n d g ra d e , inter alia, by m a k in g “b o reh o les, te s t
p its , tre n c h e s , su rfa c e or u n d e rg r o u n d h e a d in g s, d rifts or
tu n n e ls .” M ining m ay h a v e c o m p a ra tiv e ly m o re d e v a sta tin g
c o n s e q u e n c e s , b u t e x p lo ra tio n c a n sc a re ly b e sa id to b e so
h a rm le s s a s to c a u s e th e o c c u p a n ts o f th e ex p lo ra tio n a re a no
re a s o n a b le a p p re h e n s io n of im m in e n t h a rm to th e ir h o m es
a n d la n d s . In th e c irc u m s ta n c e s , th e p e titio n e rs c a n h a rd ly be
b la m e d for n o t s h a rin g th e o p tim istic s u b m is s io n of le a rn e d
c o u n s e l fo r th e 5 th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts t h a t e x p lo ra tio n “c a n
do n o h a r m w h a te v e r to a n y o n e .”

T h e p e titio n e rs e x p re s s c o n c e rn n o t only a b o u t th e h a rm
t h a t m a y b e c a u s e d a t th e s ta g e of e x p lo ra tio n , b u t a lso a t all
s ta g e s o f th e p ro je c t a n d b y th e total effect of th e p ro je c t a s
d e s c rib e d in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t. A dm ittedly, th e re is a s
y e t n o form ally e x e c u te d a g re e m e n t. Yet, th e d o c u m e n t m ay
h a v e c a u s e d r e a s o n a b le a p p r e h e n s i o n le a d in g to th e
a p p lic a tio n of th e p e titio n e rs , for (a) it h a s b e e n in itialled a fte r
a “fin a l ” r o u n d of n e g o tia tio n s b e tw e e n th e p a rtie s to a
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t; a n d (b) p ro v id e s for e a c h a n d every o n e
o f th e “five s ta g e s ” o f th e p ro je c t re fe rre d to by le a rn e d c o u n s e l
for th e fifth a n d s e v e n th r e s p o n d e n ts in h is a n a ly s is of th e
A g re e m e n t. T h e p e titio n e rs ’ c a s e is th a t, in th e c irc u m s ta n c e s ,
th e to ta lity o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t m u s t b e c o n s id e re d in
d e c id in g w h e th e r th e r e is a n im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t o f th e ir
c o n s titu tio n a l rig h ts .

T h e re is n o th in g in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t th a t s u p p o rts
th e view t h a t th e s ig n in g o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t will
“o n ly r e s u lt in e x p lo ra tio n a n d fea sib ility s tu d y .” It is a
c o m p re h e n s iv e , all e m b ra c in g d o c u m e n t.
 SC Bulankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 27 3
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)_______________

THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES UNDER THE AGREEMENT

F o llo w in g th e e x p lo r a tio n s ta g e d u r in g w h ic h t h e
C o m p a n y will lo c a te th e p re s e n c e o f e c o n o m ic a p a tite o r o th e r
p h o s p h a te m in e ra l d e p o s its a n d find o u t th e ir n a tu r e , s h a p e
a n d g ra d e , a s tu d y w o u ld b e m a d e “to d e te rm in e th e fea sib ility
o f c o m m ercially d e v elo p in g th e p h o s p h a te d e p o s it o r d e p o s its
i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e C o m p a n y . ” ( A r tic le 7 .2 ) . T h i s is
to b e followed by th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f “th e m in e , fertiliz e r
p ro c e s s in g p la n t a n d a s s o c ia te d fa c ilitie s.” (Article 8.1). A rticle
9 .4 s ta te s t h a t “T h e E n te rp ris e fac ilitie s s h a ll in c lu d e , a m o n g
o th e r th in g s , th e m in e a n d re la te d p ro c e s s in g fac ilitie s, th e
fertilizer p ro c e s s in g p la n t a n d a s s o c ia te d fac ilitie s a n d m a y
in c lu d e p o rt facilities, rail, r o a d a n d p ip e lin e t r a n s p o r ta tio n
facilities, sto ra g e facilities, c o m m u n ic a tio n fac ilitie s, p o w e r
s u p p ly a n d d is tr ib u tio n fac ilitie s, g y p s u m a n d o th e r w a s te
d i s p o s a l f a c ilitie s , r e p a i r a n d m a i n t e n a n c e f a c i l i t i e s
te m p o ra ry o r d e s ira b le in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e o p e ra tio n o f th e
E n te rp ris e . . . ” T h e n e x t s ta g e is th e “o p e ra tin g p e rio d ” w h e n
m in in g ta k e s p lac e . A rticle 9 .1 s ta te s : “As th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f
th e e n te rp ris e fac ilitie s a re p ro g re ssiv e ly c o m p le te d ,” th e
C o m p a n y will “c o m m e n c e th e o p e ra tio n of s u c h fac ilitie s o n
th e m in in g a n d p ro c e s s in g a r e a s a n d th e c o n d u c t o f a ll o th e r
a c tiv itie s c o n te m p la te d by th e E n te rp r is e a n d s h a ll a c h ie v e
co m m e rc ial p r o d u c tio n b y n o la te r t h a n tw o y e a r s follow ing
th e e n d of th e c o n s tr u c tio n p e rio d , a n d th e C o m p a n y s h a ll b e
a u th o riz e d to c o n tin u e s u c h o p e ra tio n s a n d a c tiv itie s for th e
d u ra tio n of th e o p e ra tin g p e rio d , a s lo n g a s th e C o m p a n y
a b id e s b y its o b lig a tio n s u n d e r th is A g re e m e n t a n d A p p licab le
law .” “O p e ra tin g P e rio d ” is d e fin e d in th e A g re e m e n t to m e a n
“th e p e rio d c o m m e n c in g o n th e d a y follow ing th e e n d of
th e C o n s tru c tio n P erio d a n d c o n tin u in g for so lo n g a s th e
C o m p a n y sh a ll c o n tin u e to c o n d u c t o p e ra tio n s w ith r e s p e c t to
a n y p h o s p h a te m in e ra l re s e rv e w ith in th e E x p lo ra tio n a n d / o r
M ining A rea a n d , p ro v id e d th e C o m p a n y h a s n o t p e rm a n e n tly
a b a n d o n e d o r te r m in a te d its o p e ra tio n s a n d given n o tic e
th e re o f to th e S e c re ta ry , for a p e rio d of n o t le s s t h a n 2 5 y e a r s
274 Sri Lanka Law Reports [2000] 3 Sri L.R.

follow ing th e c o m m e n c e m e n t of C o m m ercial P ro d u c tio n , or

s u c h lo n g er p erio d a s th e S e c re ta ry , o n th e w ritte n a p p lic atio n
o f th e C o m p an y , m a y a p p ro v e." Finally, th e p ro d u c t will be
so ld in th e m a rk e t. T h is is d e a lt w ith in A rticle X.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In th e in tro d u c tio n to th e p ro p o se d M ineral In v e stm e n t

A g re e m e n t, it is s ta te d , “T h e G o v e rn m e n t s e e k s to a d v a n c e th e
e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t of th e p eo p le of S ri L a n k a a n d to th a t
e n d d e s ire s to e n c o u ra g e a n d p ro m o te th e rational exploration
a n d d eve lo p m e n t of th e p h o s p h a te m in e ra l re s o u rc e s of Sri
L a n k a .” (The e m p h a s is is m ine.)

U n d o u b te d ly , th e S ta te h a s th e rig h t to ex p lo it its
ow n re s o u rc e s , p u r s u a n t, h o w ev er to its ow n environm ental
a n d d e v e lo p m e n t p o lic ie s. (Cf. P rin c ip le 21 of th e U.N.
S to c k h o lm D e c la ra tio n (1972) a n d P rin cip le 2 of th e U.N. Rio
De J a n e ir o D e c la ra tio n (1992). R a tio n a l p la n n in g c o n s titu te s
a n e s s e n tia l tool for rec o n c ilin g a n y conflict b e tw e en th e n e e d s
o f d e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e n e e d to p ro te c t a n d im prove th e
e n v iro n m e n t. (P rinciple 14, S to c k h o lm D eclaration). H u m a n
b e in g s a r e a t th e c e n tr e o f c o n c e r n s for s u s t a i n a b l e
d e v e lo p m en t. T hey a re e n title d to a h e a lth y a n d p ro d u ctiv e
life in h a rm o n y w ith n a tu r e . (P rinciple 1, Rio De J a n e ir o
D e c lara tio n ). In o rd e r to a c h ie v e s u s ta in a b le d e v elo p m en t,
e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro te c tio n s h a ll c o n s titu te a n in te g ra l p a r t of
th e d e v e lo p m e n t p ro c e s s a n d c a n n o t b e c o n s id e re d in iso la tio n
fro m it. (P rinciple 4, Rio De J a n e ir o D eclaratio n ). In m y view,
th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t m u s t b e c o n s id e re d in th e light of th e
foregoing p rin c ip le s. A d m itted ly , th e p rin c ip le s s e t o u t in th e
S to c k h o lm a n d Rio De J a n e ir o D e c la ra tio n s a re n o t legally
b in d in g in th e w ay in w h ic h a n A ct of o u r P a rlia m e n t w o u Id j? e |)
It m a y b e. It m a y b e re g a rd e d m ere ly a s j o l t law ’. Nev e rth e le s s ,
a s a M e m b e r of th e U n ite d N ationsTT H ey c o u ld h a rd ly be
ig n o re d b y S ri L a n k a . M oreover, th e y w o u ld , in m y view, b e
b in d in g if th e y h av e b e e n e ith e r e x p re s s ly e n a c te d or b e c o m e
 sc Bidankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 275
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)

a p a rt o f th e d o m e stic law by a d o p tio n b y th e s u p e rio r C o u rts

of reco rd a n d b y th e S u p r e m e C o u rt in p a r tic u la r , in th e ir
d ecisions.

D u rin g th e h e a rin g , le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7 lh

re s p o n d e n ts , s u b m itte d t h a t th e p ro je c t m u s t go a h e a d ;
b e c a u s e th e p e o p le w o u ld o th e rw is e “s ta r v e ”. In h is w ritte n
s u b m is s io n s h e s ta t e d t h a t a s “t r u s t e e o f th e n a t u r a l
re s o u rc e s of th e c o u n try . . . th e G o v e rn m e n t c a n n o t s it b a c k
do n o th in g . T h a t w o u ld b e a s in o f o m is s io n a n d w o u ld b e a s
s u c h a b re a c h of t r u s t a s if th e G o v e rn m e n t d id a c t w rongly
. . . It is c o m m o n g ro u n d t h a t th e p h o s p h a te h a s to b e .
f developed. All th e e x p e rts a re a g re e d t h a t th e p h o s p h a te
^Cannot be p e rm itte d to lie u n d e rg ro u n d ."

W hile, a s I m u s t o n a c c o u n t o f its e x tra v a g a n c e re je c t

le a rn e d c o u n s e l’s c la im t h a t p e o p le w o u ld “sta rv e " if th e
pro ject is n o t p ro c e e d e d w ith , it m ig h t b e p o in te d o u t t h a t th e re
se e m s to b e n o d is a g re e m e n t t h a t th e p h o s p h a te d e p o s it
s h o u ld b e utilized . In d e e d , a n h y p o th e s is h a s b e e n a d v a n c e d
th a t th e E p p a w e la d e p o s it w a s n o t “d isc o v e red " in 1971, b u t
w a s k n o w n to o u r r u le r s a n d p e o p le for t h o u s a n d s o f y e a rs a n d
s h a re d th e th o u g h t t h a t th e d e p o s it s h o u ld b e u tilized . T h e
difference b e tw e e n th e m a n d u s is how th is s h o u ld b e d o n e.
T he in g e n u ity of th e r u le r s a n d p e o p le o f S ri L a n k a in tim e s
gone by, it is s u g g e ste d , h a d c re a te d a s ta b le a n d s u s ta in a b le
a g ric u ltu ra l d e v e lo p m e n t s y s te m h a r n e s s in g th e key n a tu r a l
re s o u rc e s a v a ilab le w ith in th e ir n a tu r a l h a b ita t, in c lu d in g
th e E p p a w e la d e p o sit. T h e n a tu r a l p ro c e s s e s o f w e a th e rin g ,
m icro b ial ac tiv ity a n d p r e c ip ita tio n m ig h t h a v e re le a s e d p la n t
n u tr ie n ts w h ic h w e re c a rrie d o v e rla n d by flow ing in to th e
rese rv o irs, c h a n n e ls a n d riv e rs a s w ell a s p e rm e a tin g in to th e
soil m a trix a n d p o ssib ly re a c h in g u n d e r g r o u n d a q u ife rs . (See
Ivan A m a ra sin g h e , E p p a w e la : C ontribution to N utrient F low s
in the A n cient A qu atic E c o s y s te m s o f R ajarata).

In 1974, it w a s d e c id e d to u s e th e E p p a w e la d e p o s it
th ro u g h a D is tric t D e v e lo p m e n t C o u n c il. T h e D .D .C . w a s a n
276 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000] 3 Sri L.R.

o rg a n iz a tio n a im e d a t h a r n e s s in g r e s o u r c e s a t “g r a s s ­
ro o ts ” level, u tilizin g locally a v ailab le re s o u rc e s w ith th e
m in im u m u s e of foreign o r im p o rte d e x p e rtise , te c h n iq u e s a n d
te c h n o lo g y , a n d p ro v id in g m a x im u m e m p lo y m e n t
o p p o rtu n itie s a n d th e m o s t fav o u ra b le b e n e fits to th e locality.
TTie a n n u a l p ro d u c tio n of th e E p p a w e la D.D .C. p ro je c t w a s to
b e 5 0 ,0 0 0 to n s, a n d a t t h a t r a te of e x tra c tio n , it w a s e s tim a te d
t h a t th e d e p o s it w o u ld serv e th e c o u n try for a very long tim e,
p e r h a p s a th o u s a n d y e a rs . M oreover, th e D.D .C. p ro je c t w a s
d e s ig n e d to quarry th e p h o s p h a te a n d n o t to m ine it, a n d s u c h
q u a rry in g o p e ra tio n s w e re to b e far from th e J a y a g a n g a .

It h a s b e e n th e policy of su c c e ssiv e g o v e rn m e n ts d u rin g

th e p a s t th re e d e c a d e s t h a t th e E p p a w e la m in e ra l d e p o sit
s h o u ld b e p u t to u s e . In fact, L a n k a P h o s p h a te L td., th e 6 th
re s p o n d e n t, u n d e r a licence is s u e d by th e G eological S urvey
a n d M in es B u re a u , h a s b e e n m in in g a b o u t 4 0 ,0 0 0 m e tric to n s
of ro c k p e r a n n u m for c ru s h in g a n d m a rk e tin g to e n te rp ris e s
m a k in g fertilizer. T h a t m o d e s t o p e ra tio n , th e p e titio n e rs
e x p la in , c a u s e d th e m n o c o n c e rn . However, in view of th e
e s c a la tio n of th e a m o u n t to b e m in e d u n d e r th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t to 26 .1 m illio n m e tric to n s w ith in th irty y e a rs from
th e d a te of th e sig n in g o f th e a g re e m e n t, th e p e titio n e rs fear (a)
t h a t e x is tin g s u p p lie s will b e e x h a u s te d too quickly; a n d (b)
t h a t th e sc a le of o p e ra tio n s w ith in th e s tip u la te d tim e fram e
will c a u s e s e rio u s e n v iro n m e n ta l h a rm th a t w o u ld affect th e ir
h e a lth , safety , livelihood a s w ell a s th e ir c u ltu r a l h e ritag e . T he
p e titio n e rs do n o t o p p o se th e u tiliz a tio n of th e d e p o sit.
H ow ever, th e y s u b m it t h a t th e p h o s p h a te d e p o s it is a
“n o n -re n e w a b le n a tu r a l re s o u rc e t h a t s h o u ld be dev elo p ed in
a p r u d e n t a n d s u s ta in a b le m a n n e r in o rd e r to s trik e a n
e q u ita b le b a la n c e b e tw e e n th e n e e d s of th e p r e s e n t a n d fu tu re
g e n e ra tio n s of S ri L a n k a n s .”

In m y view , d u e re g a rd s h o u ld b e h a d by th e a u th o r itie s
c o n c e rn e d to th e g e n e ra l p rin c ip le e n c a p s u la te d in th e
p h r a s e ‘s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e lo p m e n t’, n a m e ly t h a t h u m a n
d e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e u s e o f n a tu r a l r e s o u rc e s m u s t ta k e p lace
in a s u s ta in a b le m a n n e r.
sc Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 277
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)

T h e re a re m a n y o p e ra tio n a l d e fin itio n s o f “s u s ta in a b le

d e v e lo p m en t”, b u t th e y h a v e m o stly b e e n v a ria tio n s o n th e
b e n c h m a rk d e fin itio n o f th e U n ite d N a tio n s C o m m is s io n o n
E n v iro n m e n t a n d D e v e lo p m e n t c h a ir e d b y G ro H a rle m
B ru n tla n d , P rim e M in is te r o f N orw ay, in its r e p o r t in 1987,
. . d e v e lo p m en t t h a t m e e ts th e n e e d s o f th e p r e s e n t w ith o u t
co m p ro m isin g th e a b ility o f f u tu r e g e n e ra tio n s to m e e t th e ir
ow n n e e d s .”

S om e o f th e e le m e n ts e n c o m p a s s e d b y th e p rin c ip le of
s u s ta in a b le t h a t a re o f s p e c ia l sig n ific a n c e to th e m a tte r b e fo re
th is C o u rt a re , firs t, th e c o n s e rv a tio n o f n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s for
th e b e n e fit o f f u tu r e g e n e ra tio n s - th e p rin c ip le o f in te r-
g e n e ra tio n a l e q u ity ; s e c o n d , th e e x p lo r a tio n o f n a t u r a l
re s o u rc e s in a m a n n e r w h ic h is ‘s u s ta in a b le ’, o r ‘p r u d e n t ’ - th e
p rin c ip le o f s u s ta in a b le u s e ; th e in te g ra tio n of e n v iro n m e n ta l
c o n s id e ra tio n s in to e c o n o m ic a n d o th e r d e v e lo p m e n t p la n s ,
p ro g ra m m e s a n d p ro je c ts - th e p rin c ip le of in te g ra tio n of
e n v iro n m e n t a n d d e v e lo p m e n t n e e d s.

In te rn a tio n a l s ta n d a r d s e ttin g in s t r u m e n ts h a v e c le a rly

recognized th e p rin c ip le o f in te r-g e n e ra tio n a l e q u ity . It h a s
b e e n s ta te d t h a t h u m a n k in d b e a r s a s o le m n re s p o n s ib ility to
p ro te c t a n d im p ro v e th e e n v iro n m e n t for p r e s e n t a n d f u tu r e
g e n e ra tio n s. (P rinciple 1, S to c k h o lm D e c lara tio n ). T h e n a tu r a l
re s o u rc e s of th e e a r th in c lu d in g th e air, w a te r, la n d flora a n d
fa u n a m u s t b e s a fe g u a rd e d for th e b e n e fit of p r e s e n t a n d
fu tu re g e n e ra tio n s . (P rin cip le 2, S to c k h o lm D e c la ra tio n ). T h e
n o n -re n e w a b le r e s o u r c e s o f th e e a r th m u s t b e em p lo y ed in
s u c h a w ay a s to g u a rd a g a in s t th e ir f u tu r e e x h a u s tio n a n d to
e n s u re t h a t b e n e fits fro m s u c h e m p lo y m e n t a re s h a r e d by all
h u m a n k in d . (P rinciple 5, S to c k h o lm D e c la ra tio n ). T h e rig h t to
d e v e lo p m e n t m u s t b e fu lfille d so a s to e q u ita b ly m e e t
d e v e lo p m en ta l a n d e n v iro n m e n ta l n e e d s of p r e s e n t a n d f u tu r e
g e n e ra tio n s. (P rinciple 3, Rio De J a n e ir o D e c lara tio n ). T he
in te r-g e n e ra tio n a l p rin c ip le in m y view , s h o u ld be re g a rd e d a s
axio m atic in th e d e c isio n m a k in g p ro c e s s in re la tio n to m a tte r s
27 8 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000] 3 Sri LR.

c o n c e rn in g th e n a tu r a l r e s o u rc e s a n d th e e n v iro n m e n t of
S ri L a n k a in g e n e ra l, a n d p a rtic u la rly in th e c a s e before u s. It
is n o t s o m e th in g n e w to u s , a lth o u g h m em o rie s m ay n e e d to
b e jogged.

J u d g e C.G. W e e ra m a n try , in h is s e p a ra te o p in io n in th e
D a n u b e c a s e (H u n gary v. Slovakia), (Supra), refe rre d to th e
“im p e rativ e o f b a la n c in g th e n e e d s o f th e p r e s e n t g e n e ra tio n
w ith th o s e of p o ste rity ." J u d g e W e e ra m a n tiy referred a t len g th
to th e irrig a tio n w o rk s of a n c ie n t S ri L a n k a , th e p h ilo so p h y of
n o t p e rm ittin g ev en a d ro p of w a te r to flow in to th e s e a w ith o u t
b e n e fittin g h u m a n k in d , a n d p o in te d o u t t h a t s u s ta in a b le
d e v e lo p m en t h a d b e e n a lre a d y c o n sc io u sly p ra c tic e d w ith
m u c h s u c c e s s for s e v e ra l m ille n ia in S ri L a n k a . J u d g e
W e e ra m a n tiy said : “T h e n o tio n of n o t c a u s in g h a rm to o th e rs
a n d h e n c e sic utere tuo u t alien um non la e d a s w a s a c e n tra l
n o tio n of B u d d h is m . It tr a n s la te d well in to e n v iro n m e n ta l
a ttitu d e s . ‘A lien u m ’ in th is c o n te x t w ould b e e x te n d e d by
B u d d h is m to f u tu r e g e n e r a tio n s a s w ell, a n d to o th e r
c o m p o n e n t e le m e n ts o f th e n a tu r a l o rd e r b e y o n d m a n him self,
for th e B u d d h is t c o n c e p t of d u ty h a d a n e n o rm o u sly long
re a c h ."

C o n te m p o ra ry law m a k e r s o f S ri L a n k a too hav e b e e n alive

to th e ir re s p o n s ib ilitie s to fu tu r e g e n e ra tio n s . T h u s , s e c tio n 17
of th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct m a k e s it a m a n d a to ry d u ty
for th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity to “re c o m m e n d to th e
M in iste r th e b a s ic policy o n th e m a n a g e m e n t a n d c o n se rv a tio n
of th e c o u n tr y ’s n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s in o rd e r to o b ta in th e
o p tim u m b e n e fits th e re fro m a n d to p r e se rv e th e s a m e Jor
fu tu r e g en era tio n s a n d th e g e n e ra l m e a s u r e s th ro u g h w h ic h
s u c h policy m a y b e c a rrie d o u t effectively."

T h e c a ll fo r s u s ta i n a b l e d e v e lo p m e n t m a d e b y th e
p e titio n e rs d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t f u r th e r d e v e lo p m en t of th e
E p p a w e la d e p o s it m u s t b e h a lte d . T h e G o v e rn m e n t is n o t
b e in g a s k e d , to u s e le a rn e d c o u n s e l’s p h ra s e , to “s it b a c k a n d
do n o th in g ."
 SQ Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry of Industrial 27 9
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)

In m y view , th e h u m a n d e v e lo p m e n t p a ra d ig m n e e d s to b e
p laced w ith in th e c o n te x t of o u r fin ite e n v iro n m e n t, so a s to
e n s u re th e f u tu r e s u s ta in a b ility of th e m in e r a l r e s o u r c e s a n d
o f th e w a te r a n d so il c o n s e rv a tio n e c o s y s te m s o f th e E p p a w e la
region, a n d o f th e N o rth C e n tra l P ro v in ce a n d S ri L a n k a in
g eneral. D u e a c c o u n t m u s t a ls o b e ta k e n o f o u r u n re n e w a b le
c u ltu ra l h e rita g e . D e c isio n s w ith re g a rd to th e n a tu r e a n d
scale of ac tiv ity re q u ire th e m o s t a n x io u s c o n s id e r a tio n from
th e p o in t of view o f s a fe g u a rd in g th e h e a lth a n d sa fe ty o f th e
people, n a tu r a lly , in c lu d in g th e p e titio n e rs , e n s u r in g th e
viability o f th e ir o c c u p a tio n s , a n d p r o te c tin g th e r ig h ts of
fu tu re g e n e ra tio n s of S ri L a n k a n s .

A ccording to th e G eological S u rv e y D e p a r tm e n t (p re se n tly

th e G eological S u rv e y a n d M ines B u re a u ), th e 3 rd r e s p o n d e n t,
th e E p p a w e la d e p o s it is s a id to h a v e a p ro v e n re se rv e of
25 m illion m e tric to n s a n d a n in fe rre d re s e rv e o f a n o th e r
35 m illion m e tric to n s . H ow ever, a s a D ire c to r o f th e 5 lh
re s p o n d e n t, M r. G a rry L. Pigg, a n d a D ire c to r o f th e 7 th
re s p o n d e n t, M r. U.I. De S ilv a B o r a le s s a , s ta t e in th e ir
affidavits, “th e a c tu a l e x te n t of th e p h o s p h a te re s e rv e s in Sri
L an k a is n o t k n o w n to d a y ”, a n d “it w o u ld ta k e e x p lo ra tio n to
discover th e n e w re s e rv e s w h ic h w o u ld m ove th e in fe rre d
reserv es in to th e p ro v e n c a te g o ry ." T h e S e c re ta ry o f th e
M inistry o f I n d u s tr ia l D e v e lo p m e n t, M r. S. H u lu g a lle , in hir-
aflidavit s ta te s t h a t “o n ly 2 6 .1 m illio n m e tric to n s o f r o r ’
p h o s p h a te w ill b e m in e d over th e e n tire 3 0 y e a r p ro je c t p e rio d
a n d th e d e p o s it c o n ta in s 2 5 m illio n m e tric to n s p ro v ed re se rv e
a n d 3 5 m illio n m e tric to n s of in fe rre d re se rv e . T h e refo re a fte r
th e 3 0 y e a r p e rio d th e r e w o u ld still b e a s u b s ta n t ia l a m o u n t of
p h o s p h a te re se rv e ." T h e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l s ta te d a s
follows: “If th e M ining L icence is given in te r m s of th e M ines
a n d M in e ra ls A ct No. 3 3 o f 1992, th e p ro je c t c o m p a n y will only
be e n title d to m in e 2 6 .1 m illion m e tric to n s for th e e n tire 3 0
y e a rs perio d . T h is a m o u n t w h e n c o m p a re d w ith th e 'a v a ila b le
re s o u rc e ’ a t E p p a w e la is s o m e w h a t n e g lig ib le .”
280 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri L.R.

How c o u ld it b e a s s e r te d w ith a n y d eg ree of co n fidence a t

th is tim e, w h e n n o e x p lo ra tio n h a s ta k e n p lace, t h a t only a
c o m p a ra tiv e ly “negligible” q u a n tity of th e a v ailab le d e p o sits
will b e e x tra c te d so t h a t a t th e e n d of th e 3 0 y e a r p ro ject period
th e r e w o u ld re m a in a “s u b s ta n tia l” a m o u n t of p h o s p h a te ? As
Mr. Pigg a n d M r. De Silva B o ra le ssa , q u ite co rrectly in m y view,
p o in t o u t, u n til e x p lo ra tio n , w e really do n o t k n o w w h a t th e
re s e rv e s a re , e x c e p t for th e a lre a d y p ro v en re se rv e of 25 m illion
m e tric to n s.

T he N a tio n a l A cadem y of S c ie n c e s in its re p o rt (P. 10)

p o in ts o u t th a t in M ay 1995, a C o m m itte e of five s c ie n tis ts a n d
tw o e c o n o m is ts a p p o in te d b y th e P re s id e n t of Sri L a n k a
re c o m m e n d e d t h a t “a m o re c o m p re h e n siv e geological reserve
e v a lu a tio n b e u n d e r ta k e n in th e lig h t of re c e n t re s e a rc h
fin d in g s so t h a t g o v e rn m e n t c a n m a k e a d e c isio n o n th e ra te
of e x p lo ra tio n of s u c h re se rv e s. T he d e c isio n o n th e ra te of
e x p lo ra tio n sh o u ld b e m a d e ta k in g in to a c c o u n t th e im p o rta n t
c o n c e rn s a b o u t th e u s e of th e r e s o u rc e s in a m a n n e r th a t
f u tu r e g e n e ra tio n s c a n a ls o b e n e fit”. No s u c h su rv e y h a s b e e n
d o n e , a lth o u g h it s h o u ld , for re a s o n s I s h a ll p re s e n tly explain,
h a v e b e e n d o n e before th e n e g o tia tin g c o m m itte e a p p o in te d by
th e P re s id e n t to c o n d u c t th e final ro u n d of n e g o tia tio n s
re c o m m e n d e d th e sig n in g o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t. T he
N a tio n a l A c a d e m y o f S c ie n c e s c a lls a tte n tio n to th e fact t h a t if
a fte r e x p lo ra tio n is c a rrie d o u t u n d e r th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t
it is fo u n d t h a t th e in fe rre d re se rv e s a re le ss t h a n p re s e n tly
a n tic ip a te d , th e r e is n o p ro v isio n in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t to
slow d o w n th e e x p lo ra tio n r a te w ith th e r e s u lt t h a t a lm o s t all
of th e n a tio n a l re s e rv e s c o u ld very well b e e x h a u s te d a t th e
e n d o f th e 3 0 y e a rs . T h e im p o rta n c e of giving effect to th e
re c o m m e n d a tio n of th e P re s id e n t’s C o m m itte e w h ic h re p o rte d
in M ay 1995 t h a t a c o m p re h e n siv e geological e v a lu a tio n
s h o u ld b e d o n e so t h a t m o re c e rta in in fo rm a tio n w o u ld be
a v a ila b le o n th e q u a n tity a n d q u a lity of th e p h o s p h a te
a t E p p a w e la c a n n o t b e o v e r s t a t e d , fo r o n it w o u ld
d e p e n d reliab le c o n c lu s io n s b e in g re a c h e d o n how b e s t in
th e n a tio n a l in te r e s t th e m in e ra l re s o u rc e s h o u ld b e u tilized,
 SC BulankuLaina and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 281
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

from th e p o in t o f view o f th e r a te o f e x tra c tio n , h a v in g

re g a rd to c o n s id e ra tio n s o f s u s ta in a b le d e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e
feasib ility o f a lte rn a tiv e s , s u c h a s th e p ro d u c tio n o f sin g le
s u p e r p h o s p h a te fertilizer to m e e t o n ly local re q u ir e m e n ts
r a th e r t h a n p ro d u c in g D i-a m m o n iu m p h o s p h a te . It is a ls o
im p o r ta n t fro m th e p o in t o f view o f a c c u ra te ly a s s e s s in g th e
G o v e rn m e n t’s c o n trib u tio n . In te r m s o f A rticle 2 .1 6 o f th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t L a n k a P h o s p h a te is g iv en a te n p e r c e n t,
h o ld in g . W h a t if th e e x p lo ra tio n re v e a ls a d e p o s it t h a t in te r m s
of q u a n tity a n d q u a lity e x ceed th e c u r r e n t a s s u m p tio n s ?
G o v e r n m e n t ’s c o n t r i b u t i o n w o u l d t h e n h a v e b e e n
u n d e re s tim a te d . A nd so, ev e n if th e geological s u rv e y is to b e
u n d e r ta k e n a s a p a r t o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t, is it in th e
b e s t in te r e s ts o f th e c o u n try to lim it th e s h a re h o ld in g to te n p e r
c e n t, a t th is s ta g e m ere ly o n th e b a s is o f a p e s s im is tic
g u e s s tim a te w h e n b e tte r in fo rm a tio n c a n b e h a d , a n d o u g h t,
o n so im p o r ta n t a m a tte r , to b e re q u ire d a n d h a d b efo re policy
d e c is io n s a re ta k e n , let a lo n e b in d in g c o n tr a c ts b e in g e n te re d
in to ?

T h e N a tio n a l S c ien c e F o u n d a tio n ’s C o m m itte e s ta te d a s

follows: “M ining o f ro ck p h o s p h a te s h o u ld b e d o n e a t a
c o n tro lle d r a te (e.g. 3 5 0 ,0 0 0 m t p e r year) so t h a t th e p r e s e n t
d e p o s it c o u ld b e u tilized by s e rv e ra l g e n e ra tio n s . H ow ever, if
m o re d e p o s its a re fo u n d , th e r a te o f e x p lo ra tio n c o u ld b e
rev ise d , th e g u idelin e being th a t th e ore sh o u ld la s t a t le a s t 2 0 0
y e a r s f o r u se in Sri L a n k a ’s A griculture.” (The e m p h a s is is
m ine).

Let u s look a t th e m a tte r in th e c o n te x t o f th e o p tim is tic

s c e n a rio p re d ic te d by th e S e c re ta ry o f I n d u s tr ia l D e v e lo p m e n t
a n d th e D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l w ith re g a rd to th e q u a n tu m
of d e p o s its . A s s u m in g t h a t 2 6 .1 m illio n m e tric to n s will be
m in e d w ith in th e 3 0 y e a r p ro je c t p e rio d , a n d t h a t th e d e p o s its
will n o t b e e x h a u s te d , is it p r u d e n t to e n te r in to th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t from th e p o in t o f view o f th e long te rm , f u tu r e
in te r e s ts o f th e c o u n try , h a v in g re g a rd to th e fa c t t h a t
p h o s p h a te is a n o n -re n e w a b le r e s o u r c e ? T h e re p o rt o f th e
282 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri LR.

N a tio n a l S c ie n c e F o u n d a tio n (P.12) p o in ts o u t t h a t th e

E p p a w e la d e p o s it is of c o n s id e ra b le v a lu e to S ri L anka
b e c a u s e p h o s p h a te d e p o s its a re n o n -re n e w a b le a n d
d w in d lin g re s o u rc e s in th e w orld like fossil fuel, a n d s h o u ld be
“w isely u tiliz e d .” C itin g H e rrin g a n d F a n te l’s la n d m a rk stu d y ,
th e N a tio n a l S c ien c e F o u n d a tio n p o in ts o u t th a t, o n th e b a s is
o f c u r r e n t in fo rm a tio n , th e w orldw ide p h o s p h a te re se rv e s will
b e e x h a u s te d in 1 0 0 -1 5 0 y e a rs. H e rrin g a n d F a n te l s ta te a s
follows:

" . . . th e in e lu c ta b le c o n c lu sio n in a w orld o f continuing

p h o s p h a te d e m a n d is t h a t society, to e x te n d p h o s p h a te rock
re s e rv e s a n d re se rv e b a s e b e y o n d th e a p p ro x im a te 100 y e a r
d e p le tio n in d a te m u s t fin d a d d itio n a l re s e rv e s a n d / o r
re d u c e th e r a te of g ro w th of p h o s p h a te d e m a n d in th e fu tu re .
S o ciety m u s t: (1) in c re a s e th e efficiency of u s e of know n
r e s o u rc e s of e a sily m in a b le p h o s p h a te rock; (2) d isco v er new,
e c o n o m ica lly -m in a b le re s o u rc e s ; o r (3) develop th e technology
to e c o n o m ica lly m in e th e v a s t b u t c u rre n tly u n e c o n o m ic
r e s o u rc e s of p h o s p h a te t h a t ex ist in th e w orld. O th e rw ise , th e
f u tu r e a v a ilab ility o f p r e s e n t c o st p h o s p h a te , a n d the cost
or a va ila b ility o f w orld fo o d will b e com prom ised, p e rh a p s
substantially." (The e m p h a s is is m ine).

A d v e r tin g to l e a r n e d c o u n s e l ’s s u b m i s s i o n a b o u t
s ta r v a ti o n , o n e m ig h t a s k , s h o u ld th e liv e s o f f u tu r e
g e n e ra tio n s of S ri L a n k a n s b e je o p a rd iz e d ?

T h e N a tio n a l S c ie n c e F o u n d a tio n s t a t e s t h a t “T h e
irre fu ta b le c o n c lu s io n is t h a t th e E p p a w e la ro ck p h o s p h a te
d e p o s it sh o u ld b e ex clu siv ely re se rv e d for th e c o u n tr y 's u s e for
g e n e ra tio n s to c o m e .” It in d ic a te s a lte rn a tiv e m e th o d s to
e n s u r e th e u s e of th e d e p o s it to m e e t th e fertilizer d e m a n d s of
th e c o u n tr y w hile c o n se rv in g th e re s e rv e s for th e u s e o f f u tu re
g e n e ra tio n s . T h e S e c re ta ry of th e M in istry o f In d u s tria l
D e v e lo p m e n t h a s m is u n d e rs to o d th e m a tte r in m a k in g h is
a v e rm e n ts in p a r a g r a p h s 18(c) a n d 19(b) o f h is affidavit. It w as
n o o n e ’s c a s e t h a t th e New Z e a la n d p ro p o s a l s h o u ld h a v e b e e n
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 283
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.)________________

c o n s id e r e d in d e c id in g u p o n r e s p o n s i v e b i d s to t h e
G o v e rn m e n t’s call for te n d e rs . W h a t is a s s e r te d is t h a t a t so m e
tim e, in c o n sid e rin g policy o p tio n s , th e G o v e rn m e n t o u g h t to
h a v e ta k e n o r o u g h t to ta k e th e New Z e a la n d p ro p o s a l in to
a c c o u n t a s b e in g m o re a p p ro p ria te (having re g a rd to th e in te r-
g e n e ra tio n a l p rin c ip le a n d e n v iro n m e n ta l c o n s id e ra tio n s )
in th e m a tte r of th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e E p p a w e la p h o s p h a te
d e p o s it before a d o p tin g th e c o u rs e of a c tio n d e c id e d u p o n by
th e G o v e rn m e n t a s e x p re s s e d in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t.

T h e S e c re ta ry of th e M in istry o f I n d u s tr ia l D e v e lo p m e n t in
h is affidavit s ta te d t h a t “w ith th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f tec h n o lo g y
a n d m a r k e t c o n d itio n s, a m in e ra l d e p o s it m a y a ls o c e a s e to b e
a re s o u rc e a s h a s h a p p e n e d to t h e tin in d u s tr y in th e w o rld
w ith th e a d v e n t of p la s tic _. . ." S u s ta in a b le d e v e lo p m e n t
r e q u i r e s t h a t n o n '- re f ir ^ a E Ie r e s o u r c e s lik e p h o s p h a t e
s h o u ld b e d e p le ted only a t th e r a te of c re a tio n o f re n e w a b le
s u b s titu te s . W h a t is th e k n o w n re n e w a b le s u b s ti tu t e for
p h o s p h a te ? H errin g a n d F a n te l, a s w e h a v e se e n , re fe r to a
“c o n tin u in g p h o s p h a te d e m a n d . “D oes th e firs t r e s p o n d e n t
a s s u m e t h a t p la n ts will n e e d n o p h o s p o r o u s ? O n t h a t
m a tte r , Prof. O.A. Ille p e ru m a of th e D e p a rtm e n t of C h e m is try ,
U n iv e rsity of P e rad e n iy a, w ith so m e a s p e rity , h a d th is to sa y
(P. 11): ‘T h e r e a re so m e w is e c ra c k s w h o s a y t h a t s c ie n tis ts will
develop n ew p la n ts w h ic h will grow w ith o u t p h o s p o ro u s .
A nyone w ith even a r u d im e n ta ry k n o w led g e o f sc ie n c e k n o w s
t h a t p h o s p o ro u s is a n e s s e n tia l c o m p o n e n t of o u r b o n e
s tr u c tu r e a n d w h e n s u c h v a rie tie s o f c a s h c ro p s a re in d e e d
p o s s ib le th e n w e will h a v e h u m a n s w ith n o b o n e s w h o will
p ro b a b ly m ove a ro u n d like jellyfish! . .

If in fact th e o p tim istic view s o f th e S e c re ta ry o f th e

M in istry o f In d u s tria l D e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e D e p u ty S o licito r-
G e n e ra l a re c o n firm ed by e x p lo ra tio n , le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e
p e titio n e rs su b m itte d t h a t it d o e s n o t n e c e s s a rily follow t h a t a t
th e e n d o f th e th irty y e a rs a fte r th e sig n in g o f th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t, th e G o v e rn m e n t of Sri L a n k a will b e in c o n tro l of
th e m in in g o p e ra tio n s . I find m y se lf in a g re e m e n t w ith t h a t
284 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri L.R.

s u b m i s s io n o f le a r n e d c o u n s e l fo r th e p e titio n e rs , for
th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t d e fin e s “o p e ra tin g p e rio d ” to be
“a p e rio d of n o t le s s t h a n 2 5 y e a rs follow ing th e C om m ercial
P ro d u c tio n , o r s u c h lo n g er p e rio d a s th e S e c re tary , o n th e
w ritte n a p p lic a tio n m ay a p p ro v e .” A rticle XXX of th e p ro p o sed
a g re e m e n t s ta te s , inter alia, t h a t th e A g reem en t “will c o n tin u e
in force u n til th e la te r to o c c u r o f th e following d a te s: (a) th e
d a te w h ic h is 3 0 y e a rs follow ing th e d a te of th e sig n in g of th is
A g reem en t, o r (b) th e d a te o n w h ic h th e O p e ra tin g Period
e x p ire s. T h e C o m p a n y m a y re q u e s t th e e x te n sio n of th is
A g re e m e n t o n te rm s to b e n e g o tia te d . . . " I f th e S e c re ta ry
a p p ro v e s th e a p p lic a tio n of th e C o m p a n y for th e e x te n sio n
o f th e O p e ra tin g P eriod, h e th e re b y e x te n d s th e O p e ra tin g
Period; th e r e is th e n n o n e e d for th e C o m p a n y to a p p ly for th e
e x te n s io n of th e a g re e m e n t o n te rm s to b e n e g o tia te d .

T h e p e titio n e rs a ls o s ta te t h a t th e E p p a w e la d e p o sit is a n
a g ric u ltu ra lly d eveloped a re a w h ic h is a lso th e lo ca tio n of
m a n y h is to ric a l v ih a r a s a n d o th e r p la c e s of a rch aeo lo g ical
v a lu e . It is a ls o th e a r e a of th e J a y a G a n g a /Y o d a E la s c h e m e
w h ic h is c o n s id e re d to b e a m o n g th e g re a te s t e x a m p le s of
S ri L a n k a ’s e n g in e e rin g sk ills a n d fo rm s a n im p o rta n t p a r t of
th e irrig a tio n n e tw o rk o f th e N o rth C e n tra l Province. They
allege t h a t over 2 0 n ew a n d a n c ie n t irrig a tio n ta n k s a n d a b o u t
100 k ilo m e tre s of s m a ll irrig a tio n c a n a ls a re in d a n g e r of b ein g
d e stro y e d . Five k ilo m e tre s o f th e J a y a G a n g a , th ey say, will be
affected w h ic h c o u ld a d v e rse ly affect th e e n tire irrig a tio n
s y s te m of th e N o rth C e n tra l P rovince in w h ic h it is a n
im p o r ta n t lin k . T h e p e titio n e rs f u rth e r allege th a t a factory for
th e p r o d u c tio n p h o s p h o ric a c id a n d s u lp h u r ic a c id w h ic h a re
h ig h ly p o llu tin g s u b s ta n c e s will b e c o n s tr u c te d a t T rin co m alee
u s in g a 4 5 0 a c re la n d n e x t to T rin c o m a le e Bay. T h e p e titio n e rs
a ls o allege t h a t th e e n v iro n m e n ta l p o llu tio n re s u ltin g from
th e s a id p ro je c t will b e m a s s iv e a n d irre v ersib le a n d will re n d e r
th e a ffected a r e a u n u s a b le in th e fo re se ea b le fu tu re . W aste
p r o d u c t s fro m th e la r g e -s c a le m in in g of p h o s p h a te a s
e n v isa g e d b y th e p ro je c t in c lu d e p h o s p h o -g y p s u m a n d o th e r
ra d io activ e s u b s ta n c e s , w h ile th e m in in g o p e ra tio n will leave
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 285
Development and Others (Ameraslnghe, J.)________________

b e h in d large p its a n d g u llie s w h ic h will p ro v id e a b re e d in g

g ro u n d for m o sq u ito e s a n d le a d to th e s p re a d o f d a n g e ro u s
d is e a s e s s u c h a s m a la ria a n d J a p a n e s e e n c e p h a litis . T h e
p e titio n e rs f u r th e r s ta te t h a t th e p a s t re c o rd of e n v iro n m e n ta l
p o llu tio n b y F re e p o rt M a cM o ran a n d IMCO Agrico (the m a jo r
s h a re h o ld e r in th e 5th r e s p o n d e n t c o m p a n y ) is n o to rio u s e v e n
in th e ir o w n h o m e c o u n try , n a m e ly , th e U n ited S ta te s o f
A m erica.

T h e N a tio n a l A cad em y o f S c ie n c e s o f S ri L a n k a (see below )

a ls o m a k e s c ritic a l c o m m e n ts a b o u t th e p a s t e x p e rie n c e o f
F re e p o rt M acM oran.

W ith re g a rd to th e g y p s u m a s a b y -p ro d u c t, th e first
r e s p o n d e n t in h is affidavit s ta te s : “T h e p ro je c t is e x p e c te d
to p ro d u c e a p p ro x im a te ly 1.2 m e tric to n s (sic.) o f p h o s p h o -
g y p s u m p e r a n n u m a s a b y - p ro d u c t.” H e s u g g e s ts t h a t r a t h e r
t h a n b e in g a p ro b le m , it w o u ld b e a b o o n for w h ic h w e s h o u ld
b e th a n k f u l, for a p a r t o f th is , h e s a y s , c o u ld b e sold to local
c e m e n t m a n u f a c tu r e r s a n d u s e d in th e m a n u f a c tu r e o f “p lie r
a n d b o a rd s". H ave m a rk e t s tu d ie s b e e n d o n e ? G y p s u m m a y
p o s e n o d a n g e r if th e q u a n titie s a re m a n a g e a b le . T he s c a le of
o p e ra tio n is im p o rta n t if th e b y - p ro d u c ts a re to be u tiliz e d
w ith o u t c a u s in g e n v iro n m e n ta l d a m a g e . C o u ld th e a m o u n t o f
g y p s u m p ro d u c e d b e a b s o rb e d b y th e c e m e n t m a n u f a c tu r e r s
a n d o th e r s h a v in g re g a rd to th e fa c t th a t, a c c o rd in g to th e
A cad em y o f S c ie n c e s, th e r e w ill b e “a million m etric to n s o f
ph osph o-gypsu rri"? T h e N a tio n a l S c ie n c e F o u n d a tio n in its
E x e c u tiv e S u m m a r y s ta te s : “T h e U .S . M in in g C o m p a n y
p ro p o s a l is n o t e n v iro n m e n t frien d ly : M o u n ta in s o f p h o s p h o -
g y p s u m w ill a c c u m u l a t e p o l l u t i n g t h e e n v ir o n m e n t."
M r. T h ila n W ijesinghe, in h is le tte r d a te d M a rc h 3 0 , 1998 (P. 7),
n o te s t h a t 1.2 m illio n m e tr ic t o n s p e r a n n u m o f ro c k
p h o s p h a te w o u ld be m in e d a n d p ro c e s s e d . ” T h e 1st r e s p o n d e n t
s e e m s to h a v e b e e n c o n fu s e d a b o u t th e a m o u n t o f ro c k
p h o s p h a te to b e m in e d a n d p ro c e s s e d a n d th e a m o u n t o f
p h o s p h o -g y p s u m left b e h in d . If, th e g y p s u m is n o t in fa c t
a b s o rb e d in th e w ay e n v isa g e d b y t h e firs t r e s p o n d e n t, is it to
286 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri UR.

lie so m e w h e re ? Not everyone is w illing to form o p in io n s o n

g r o u n d s a d m itte d ly in a c c u ra te o r in su ffic ien t. Prof. O.A.
U le p e ru m a s ta te d a s follows (P. 11): “T h is m ay n o t b e a problem
for larg e c o u n trie s s u c h a s USA w h e re p h o sp h o -g y p su m
m o u n ta in s a re visible d o ttin g th e F lo rid a la n d s c a p e , sin ce
o p e n a n d b a r r e n la n d is a v ailab le in larg e c o u n trie s s u c h a s
th e U.S.A. S ri L a n k a , o n th e o th e r h a n d , is one of th e m o st
ov ercro w d ed c o u n trie s in th e w orld w h e re even finding a site
to d u m p d o m e stic g a rb a g e h a s b eco m e a s e rio u s problem ."
T h e ev id en ce b efo re u s p o in ts to th e fact t h a t th e q u a n tity
o f p h o s p h o -g y p s u m w ould g ro ssly exceed th e a ssim ilativ e
c a p a c ity o f th e e n v iro n m e n t.

In th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s w o u ld th e g y p s u m e n d u p in th e se a?
T h e m in u te s of th e m e e tin g h e ld o n th e 2 2 nd of J a n u a r y 1998
a t th e CEA a ta te a s follows: “M rs. P riy an i W ijem an n e, G M /
M P P A h ig h lig h ted th e p o ssib le im p a c ts o n m a rin e e c o -sy ste m s
a t th e T rin c o m a le e site a n d re q u e s te d t h a t th o s e s h o u ld be
c a re fu lly lo o k e d in to d u r in g th e E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t S ta g e. S h e s u b m itte d a re p o rt to th e C h a irm a n on
is s u e s t h a t s h o u ld b e a d d re s s e d ."

I do n o t k n o w w h a t M s. W ije m a n n e s a id in h e r rep o rt, b u t

a tte n tio n is d ra w n , e sp ecially of th e 4 th r e s p o n d e n t in a p p ly in g
th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e re g u la tio n s fram ed
th e r e u n d e r , to th e p rin c ip le s of th e S to c k h o lm D eclaratio n :
“T h e d is c h a rg e o f toxic s u b s ta n c e s o r of o th e r s u b s ta n c e s . . .
in s u c h q u a n titie s o r c o n c e n tra tio n s a s to exceed th e c a p ac ity
o f th e e n v iro n m e n t to re n d e r th e m h a rm le s s , m u s t be h a lte d
in o rd e r to e n s u r e th a t s e rio u s o r irre v ersib le d a m a g e is n o t
in flicted u p o n e c o -sy ste m s. T h e j u s t stru g g le of th e peo p les
o f a ll c o u n tr ie s a g a in s t p o llu tio n s h o u ld b e s u p p o rte d ."
(P rinciple 6). “S ta te s s h a ll ta k e all p o ssib le s te p s to p re v e n t
p o llu tio n of th e s e a s by s u b s ta n c e s t h a t a re liable to c re a te
h a z a r d s to h u m a n h e a lth , to h a r m living re s o u r c e s a n d m a rin e
life, to d a m a g e a m e n itie s o r to in te rfe re w ith o th e r leg itim ate
u s e s of th e sea." (P rinciple 7). It m ig h t be n o te d , p a rtic u la rly by
th e 4 th re s p o n d e n t, t h a t P rin c ip le 15 of th e Rio De J a n e ir o
 SC Bidankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 287
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.) ______________

D e c la ra tio n m a rk e d a p ro g re ssiv e s h ift fro m th e p re v e n tiv e

p rin c ip le recognized in P rin c ip le s 6 a n d 7 o f th e S to c k h o lm
D e c la ra tio n w h ic h w a s p re d ic a te d u p o n th e n o tio n t h a t o n ly
w h e n p o llu tio n th re a te n s to ex ceed th e a s sim ila tiv e c a p a c ity to
r e n d e r it h a rm le s s , s h o u ld it b e p re v e n te d fro m e n te rin g th e
e n v iro n m e n t. P rin cip le 15 of th e Rio D e J a n e ir o D e c la ra tio n
s ta te d : “In o rd e r to p ro te c t th e e n v iro n m e n t, th e p r e c a u tio n a ry
a p p ro a c h s h a ll b e w idely a p p lie d b y s ta te s 'a c c o r d in g to th e ir
c a p a b ilitie s. W h ere th e r e a re t h r e a ts o f s e rio u s o r irre v e rsib le
d a m a g e , la c k o f full scien tific c e rta in ty s h a ll n o t b e u s e d a s a
re a s o n for p o s tp o n in g co st-effectiv e m e a s u r e s to p re v e n t
e n v iro n m e n ta l d e g ra d a tio n .” T h e p r e c a u tio n a ry p rin c ip le a c ts
to re v e rse th e a s s u m p tio n in th e S to c k h o lm D e c la ra tio n a n d ,
in m y view, o u g h t to b e a c te d u p o n b y th e 4 th re s p o n d e n t.
T h erefo re if ev er p o llu tio n is d is c e rn e d , u n c e r ta in ty a s to
w h e th e r th e a ssim ila tiv e c a p a c ity h a s b e e n re a c h e d s h o u ld
n o t p re v e n t m e a s u r e s b e in g in s is te d u p o n to re d u c e s u c h
p o llu tio n from re a c h in g th e e n v iro n m e n t.

T h e N a tio n a l A cadem y of S c ie n c e s s ta t e s in its r e p o r t a s

follows:

“A s s u m in g t h a t t h e o r e r e s e r v e s a r e a s h i g h a s
e n v isa g e d , a n d t h a t th e o re h a s a h ig h c o n te n t o f iro n a n d
a lu m in iu m im p u ritie s , d i-a m m o n iu m p h o s p h a te w ith its h ig h
p h o s p h o ro u s c o n te n t a n d a lso c o n ta in in g so m e n itro g e n is
a good v a lu e a d d e d p ro d u c t for th e e x p o rt m a rk e t. H ow ever
th e h ig h tec h n o lo g y re q u ire d will in c lu d e s e ttin g u p a m m o n ia ,
p h o s p h o ric a c id a n d s u lp h u r ic a c id m a n u f a c tu r in g p la n ts ,
w h ic h to g e th e r w ith th e liq u id p ro c e s s in g tec h n o lo g y involved
c a n le a d to s e rio u s e n v iro n m e n ta l h a z a r d s in c lu d in g th e
p ro d u c tio n of h ig h toxic w a s te b y p r o d u c ts a n d re le a s e of
toxic p o llu ta n ts to w a te r b o d ie s a n d th e a tm o s p h e re .

If th e eco n o m ically e x p lo ita b le o re re s e rv e s a re n o t m u c h

h ig h e r t h a n 3 0 m illion m e tric to n s , a n d 70% of th is is h ig h
q u a lity , it m ig h t b e m o re p r u d e n t to follow th e ad vice o f o u r
s c ie n tis ts a n d a c c e p t th e New Z e a la n d Fertiliz er G ro u p 's
288 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR.

p ro p o sitio n (e stim a te d to c o s t $ 2 0 m illion US D ollars) to

p ro d u c e 1 5 0 ,0 0 0 m e tric to n s of sin g le s u p e r-p h o s p h a te per
y e a r to m e e t o n ly local re q u ire m e n ts ev en if in th e s h o rt
te rm it m a y a p p e a r to give le s s m o n e ta ry b e n e fits. T h is will
p re se rv e o u r o re re s e rv e s for a m u c h lo n g er period, involve
s im p le r tech n o lo g y , leave n o e n v iro n m e n ta lly h a z a rd o u s w a ste
b y -p ro d u c ts s u c h a s a m illion m etric to n s of p h o sp h o -g y p su m ,
a n d th e re w ill b e n o n e e d for a m m o n ia a n d p h o sp h o ric acid
p la n ts w h ic h p ro d u c e toxic e fflu en ts. O f c o u rs e th e low er g rad e
. . . sin g le s u p e r- p h o s p h a te w o u ld lose o u t on h ig h tra n s p o rt
c o s t p e r u n i t n u tr ie n t a n d m a y leave little e x p o rt d e m a n d .
F u rth e rm o re , u n d e r o u r free m a rk e t lib e ral econom y, locally
p ro d u c e d sin g le s u p e r- p h o s p h a te m a y b e m o re ex p en siv e to
o u r fa rm e rs t h a n im p o rte d hig h p h o s p h o ro u s c o n te n t fertilizer
s u c h a s trip le s u p e r- p h o s p h a te o n u n it n u tr ie n t v a lu e b a s is
u n le s s th e local p ro d u c t is given fiscal p ro te c tio n . T he decisio n
o n w h a t fertilizer s h o u ld b e p ro d u c e d locally m u s t a w a it th e
r e s u lts o f th e c o m p re h e n siv e e x p lo ra tio n p h a s e .”

The report adds as follows

“M ining a n d p ro c e s s in g of th e p ro d u c ts a s en v isag ed will

b e a n o p e ra tio n of u n p r e c e d e n te d m a g n itu d e in Sri L anka,
a n d th e p o te n tia l e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c ts co u ld b e eq u ally
d ra s tic . At th e m in in g s ite th e re will b e sev ere d is tu r b a n c e s to
th e ecology of th e a r e a th ro u g h , a m o n g o th e rs , th e m in in g
o p e r a t io n its e lf , t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l a c tiv itie s a n d th e
d is c h a rg e o f p o llu ta n ts to th e a tm o s p h e re . At th e p ro c e ssin g
site , th e e fflu e n ts a n d o th e r p o llu ta n ts t h a t will b e d isc h a rg e d
w o u ld p o se se v ere e n v iro n m e n ta l th r e a ts u n le s s a d e q u a te
c o u n te r m e a s u r e s a r e a d o p te d . A lth o u g h th e p ro p o se d
a rr a n g e m e n t w ith th e p r o s p e c to r h a s p ro v isio n to th e effect
t h a t th e o p e ra tio n s will b e c a rrie d o u t w ith d u e re s p e c t to th e
law s of th e c o u n try , a n d th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n t Act d o es
c o n ta in p ro v isio n s to g u a rd a g a in s t a d v e rs e e n v iro n m e n t
im p a c ts , w e a re of o p in io n t h a t for a n o p e ra tio n of th is
m a g n itu d e a d d itio n a l s a fe g u a rd s s h o u ld b e a d o p te d . T h is is
p a rtic u la rly im p o r ta n t a s m in in g p ro s p e c to rs th e w orld over
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 289
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

a re n o to rio u s for c re a tin g e n v iro n m en ta l d is a s te rs , a n d F re ep o rt

M acM oran is n o e x c e p tio n . In fac t, a c c o rd in g to m e d ia
re p o rts , F re e p o rt M acM oran, o n e of th e la rg e s t fertiliz e r
m a n u f a c tu r in g c o m p a n ie s in th e w orld, h a s th e d u b io u s
d is tin c tio n of b e in g a ls o No. 1 P o llu to r in th e USA. It h a s a ls o
h a d a p o o r re c o rd in In d o n e s ia a n d in th e S o u th Pacific is la n d
of New G u in e a . It w o u ld a ls o b e p r u d e n t to c h e c k o n th e
c o m p a n y ’s c re d ib ility p e rta in in g to e n v iro n m e n ta l m a tte r s b y
c allin g for th e re le v a n t r e p o r ts from USA, New G u in e a a n d
In d o n e s ia before p ro je c t a p p ro v a l . . . T h ro u g h s tu d y o f s u c h
re p o rts, w e w ould b e in a b e tte r p o s itio n to in s is t o n th e
in c o rp o ra tio n o f s tro n g e r a n d m o re effective m e a s u r e s in
th e A g reem en t to e n s u r e e n v iro n m e n t safety . It s h o u ld b e
. e x p re ssly s ta te d in th e A g re e m e n t t h a t th e m in in g o p e ra tio n s
a n d th e p ro c e s s in g s h o u ld b e c a rrie d o u t in a c c o rd a n c e w ith
th e e n v iro n m e n t s ta n d a r d s s e t b y th e G o v e rn m e n t o f S ri
L a n k a . T h e A g re e m e n t s h o u ld a ls o sp ecifically s ta te t h a t th e
ecological re s to ra tio n of th e a r e a s a ffected b y th e m in in g m u s t
b e c a rrie d o u t by th e p r o s p e c to r a t h is o w n c o s t p ro g re ssiv e ly
d u rin g th e p e rio d o f m in in g o p e ra tio n s a n d a s d ire c te d b y th e
G o v e rn m e n t o f S ri L a n k a . T h e A g re e m e n t m u s t be e x p lic it t h a t
fa ilu re to o b se rv e th e s e e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro te c tio n m e a s u r e s
c o u ld r e s u lt in th e te r m in a tio n o f th e p ro je c t. W e d ra w sp e c ia l
a tte n tio n to th e fa c t t h a t th e J a y a G a n g a w h ic h is w ith in th e
a r e a to b e m in e d h a s b e e n re g a rd e d a s a w o n d e r of th e a n c ie n t
w orld a n d a c u ltu r a l m o n u m e n t to b e p re s e rv e d b y U N E SC O ’s
W orld H erita g e C o n v e n tio n . (D.L.O. M en d is, The Islan d, 14
A pril 1998)”.

T h e p e titio n e rs ’ a s s e r tio n s w ith re g a rd to a p p re h e n d e d

h a rm from th e p ro p o s e d p ro je c t a ls o fin d s s u p p o r t in th e
re p o rt of th e N a tio n a l S c ie n c e F o u n d a tio n (P. 12) w h ic h s ta te d
t h a t th e p ro je c t

“in th e view of m a n y of th e P ro fe ssio n a l A s s o c ia tio n s in

th e c o u n try , e.g. T h e I n s titu tio n o f E n g in e e rs , I n s titu te of
C h e m istry , th e N a tio n a l A c a d e m y o f S c ie n c e s a n d m o s t
in d iv id u a l s c ie n tis ts a n d e n g in e e rs is h ig h ly d is a d v a n ta g e o u s
29 0 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri UR.

to th e c o u n tr y a n d w ith h ig h ly a d v e rs e e n v iro n m e n ta l
im p a c ts .”

The report adds:

“T h e p ro p o sa l o f e x p lo ita tio n of th e a p a tite m in e is b e se t

w ith m a n y p ro b le m s. M ines alw ay s c a u s e d a m a g e to [the]
e n v iro n m e n t a n d m in im iz a tio n of s u c h d a m a g e m u s t be
e x a m in e d a t len g th . F u r th e r , [the] E p p aw ela p h o s p h a te ore is
lo ca ted in a n a g ric u ltu ra lly developed sy ste m , in a n a re a of
e x tre m e h isto ric a l im p o rta n c e a n d of a rc h a e o lo g ic al v a lu e in
th e pro x im ity of [national] m o n u m e n ts close to th e C u ltu ra l
T ria n g le s ite s w ith th e S ri M a h a b o d h i a n d R uw anw eli S aya.
W ith in th e b o u n d s of [the] m in in g a re a a re m a n y a n c ie n t
villages, w h ic h will be a d v e rse ly affected. T he im m e d ia te th re a t
to th e J a y a G a n g a o r Y oda E la c a n n o t be overlooked. If
th e m in in g of th e ore d a m a g e s th e J a y a G an g a, it d e n ig ra d e s
S ri L a n k a n h isto iy . J a y a G a n g a is a n e n g in e e rin g m arv el th a t
m u s t be p re se rv e d for e te rn ity a s th e h e rita g e of m a n k in d j u s t
a s th e Taj M ahal, th e P y ra m id s o r R uw anw eli S a y a a re
p re se rv e d for p o s te rity .”

T h e E p p a w e la p ro je c t, a s th e p e titio n e rs , th e N ational
S c ien c e F o u n d a tio n a n d th e N a tio n a l A cadem y of S c ien c e s
p o in t o u t, is in a n a re a o f h isto ric a l sig nificance. If I m ig h t
a d o p t th e w o rd s of M a rth a P ric k e tt F e rn a n d o in h e r c o m m e n ts
o n a n o th e r p ro p o se d p ro je c t - th e a u g m e n ta tio n of th e M alala
oya b a s in from M au a r a -, “U n le s s d e v e lo p m en t a c tiv itie s in
a r e a s like th is p ro je c t a re a c c o m p a n ie d by p ro p e r ELA s tu d ie s
a n d [p ro p o sa ls for] m itig a tio n of th e [adverse im p a c ts on]
a rc h a e o lo g ic a l r e s o u r c e s t h a t will b e d a m a g e d , v a s t n u m b e r s
of s ite s - in fact, m u c h of S ri L a n k a ’s u n re n e w a b le c u ltu r a l
h e rita g e a n d th e ra w d a ta for all f u tu r e s tu d ie s o n a n c ie n t Sri
L a n k a - will be d e s tro y e d w ith o u t rec o rd , a n d a n a c c u r a te
u n d e r s ta n d in g of life in a n c ie n t S ri L a n k a will re m a in forever
w ra p p e d in m y th a n d h y p o th e s is .” In t h a t c o n n e c tio n , th e
w o rd s o f D.D. K o ssam b i (The C ulture a n d C ivilization o f A ncient
India) co m e to m ind: “To le a m a b o u t th e p a s t in th e lig h t of th e
p r e s e n t is to le a m a b o u t th e p r e s e n t in th e lig h t o f th e p a s t.”
 SC Bulankidama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 291
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

I g n o ra n c e of v ita l f a c ts o f h i s t o r ic a l a n d c u l t u r a l
sig n ifican ce o n th e p a r t o f p e rs o n s in a u th o r ity c a n le a d to
se rio u s b lu n d e r s in c u rre n t d e c isio n m a k in g p r o c e s s e s t h a t
re la te to m o re t h a n r u p e e s a n d c e n ts . T h e first r e s p o n d e n t, th e
S e c re ta r y to th e M in istry o f I n d u s tr ia l D e v e lo p m e n t, in
p a r a g r a p h 13 of h is affidavit s ta te s a s follows: “T h e s o u th e r n
p a r t of th e Y oda E la h a s b e e n a b a n d o n e d a fter th e construction
o f J a y a G anga in 1 9 8 0 ’s u n d er th e M a h a w eli S ch em e.” (The
e m p h a s is is m ine). J u d ic ia l r e s t r a i n t p r e v e n ts m e fro m
s u g g e stin g w h y h e m ig h t, p e rh a p s , h a v e th o u g h t it w a s
c alled “J a y a ” G an g a.

T h e K alaw eva, w h ic h h e lp e d to s u p p le m e n t th e s u p p ly of
w a te r to A n u r a d h a p u r a a n d th e a re a a r o u n d t h a t g re a t a n d
a n c ie n t city, w a s c o n s tr u c te d b y K ing D h a tu s e n a (4 5 5 -4 7 3
AD) a n d it is, th e re fo re s u p p o s e d , th o u g h n o t c o n c lu siv ely
e s ta b lis h e d , t h a t D h a tu s e n a a ls o b u ilt th e J a y a G a n g a w h ic h
a u g m e n te d th e ta n k s a t A n u r a d h a p u r a a n d its e n v iro n s s u c h
a s T is sa , N a g a ra a n d M a h a d a r a g a tta , a p a r t fro m irrig a tin g
a larg e a r e a o f la n d o f a b o u t 180 s q u a r e m iles. (See K.M. d e
Silva, H istory o f Sri Lanka, p. 30; R.L. B ro h ie r, A n cien t
Irrigation W orks in Ceylon, P a r t II, p p . 7-8.)

T h e m a p s p ro d u c e d s h o w t h a t th e J a y a G a n g a p a s s e s
th ro u g h th e E p p a w e la p h o s p h a te d e p o s it reg io n . It w a s, a s
B ro h ie r sa y s, a p a r t of “a n in g e n io u s n e t-w o rk of irrig a tio n
c h a n n e ls in th is d is tric t . . . w h ic h , a p a r t fro m affo rd in g
e d ific a tio n to f u tu r e g e n e ra tio n s , a re m o n u m e n ts of th e p o w er
a n d b e n e ficic e n ce of th e a n c ie n t r u le r s of C eylon." W h e th e r it
w a s b u ilt by D h a tu s e n a o r n o t, a c c o rd in g to C h a p te r 7 9 .5 8 o f
th e M a h a w a m sa , P a r a k r a m b a h u I (1 1 5 3 -1 1 8 6 AD) “h a d th e
ru in e d c a n a l called J a y a G a n g a re s to re d . It b r a n c h e d off fro m
K alav ap i a n d flow ed to A n u r a d h a p u r a .” It is a 5 4 1/ 2 m ile long
c o n to u r c h a n n e l t h a t s t a r t s fro m a s lu ic e in th e b u n d o f th e
K ala W ew a a n d e n d s in th e T is sa W ew a a n d B a s a w a k u la m
t a n k in th e a n c ie n t city of A n u r a d h a p u r a . A s s u m in g t h a t so m e
p e o p le n o t only do n o t k n o w th e b a s ic fa c ts o f h isto ry , b u t
 292 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR.

m ig h t a ls o b e ig n o ra n t of e le m e n ta ry g eo g rap h y so a s n o t to be
a b le to re a d th e m a p s t h a t w ere p ro d u c e d , it m ig h t be
e x p la in e d t h a t th e fu n c tio n o f th e J a y a G a n g a in a n c ie n t tim es
a p p e a r s to b e tw ofold: to in te rc e p t th e d ra in a g e from th e lan d
to th e e a s t a n d is s u e it to c a s c a d e s o f sm a lle r village ta n k s to
th e w e st, in th e b a s in o f th e K ala oya; a n d , by tra n s -b a s in
d iv ersio n , to a u g m e n t th e A n u r a d h a p u ra city ta n k s a n d
pro v id e irrig a tio n w a te r in th e a d ja c e n t M alw atu oya b a sin .
B ro h ie r s ta te s t h a t th is a n c ie n t c a n a l, w h ic h h a d a g a in b e e n
re s to re d in 1 8 8 5 -1 8 8 8 ,

“h a d a g ra d ie n t for th e first 17 m iles of only six in c h e s p er

m ile .. . S u c h a n in g e n io u s m em o ria l of a n c ie n t irrig a tio n skill
c a n n o t b e p a s s e d over w ith o u t a refe re n c e to its p e c u lia r
fe a tu re s . It n e e d s to b e e x p la in e d t h a t th e J a y a G a n g a follows
th e h ig h g ro u n d b e tw e e n th e re se rv o ir w h ic h se rv e s a s its
s o u rc e o f s u p p ly a n d th e T is s a W ew a. By th is m e a n s it
in te r c e p ts a ll th e d ra in a g e b e tw e e n E la g a m u w a a n d th e w e s t­
e r n w a te rs h e d o f th e M alw atu o y a w h ic h o th e rw ise w ould ru n
to w a s te a n d it irrig a te s th e c o u n try below th e c a n a l by a m o st
p e rfe c t s y s te m o f irrig a tio n . In e a c h o f th e su b s id ia ry valleys on
its c o u rs e th e w a te r is d iv erted by c h a n n e ls in to little village
t a n k s o r c h a in s o f t a n k s - th e ta n k s low er dow n receiving th e
overflow fro m th e ta n k s p la c e d h ig h e r in e a c h c h a in .

T h e s c h e m e w a s so p e rfe c t th a t th e a n c ie n t c a n a l afforded
irrig a tio n fac ilitie s over a p p ro x im a te ly 180 s q u a re m iles of
c o u n try o n th e e a s t o f th e K ala-oya, b e tw e e n K ala W ew a a n d
A n u r a d h a p u r a . It to d a y feed s n o le s s t h a n 6 0 village ta n k s a n d
p ro v id e s a reliab le s o u rc e of d rin k in g w a te r to m o re th a n 100
v illages a n d to th e to w n o f A n u r a d h a p u ra .

T h e re is u n d e r s u c h c ir c u m s ta n c e s , little re a s o n to
d is p u te t h a t th e J a y a - G a n g a m u s t h a v e b e e n of in c a lc u la b le
b e n e fit to N u w a ra k a la w iy a T h th e d a y s uf th e S ln lia le se -K in g s,
" In a s m u c h a s th e re s to ra tio n o f th e w o rk is to d a y b u t too
a p tly d e s c rib e d a s ‘t h e g r a n d e s t e x p e rim e n t in irrig a tio n ever
u n d e r ta k e n in m o d e m C e y lo n .’”
 sc Bidankuiama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry of Industrial 293
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.) ___________

T h e J a y a G a n g a , w h ic h th e p e titio n e rs , a s w ell a s
th e N a tio n a l A cad em y o f S c ie n c e s a n d th e N a tio n a l S c ien c e
F o u n d a tio n , h a v e d ra w n a tte n tio n to, is n o t m e re ly a w a te r
c o u rs e o r tr a n s p o r ta tio n c a n a l c o rrd id o r, o r ev e n “a n a m a z in g
tech n o lo g ical fe a t”, a s Prof. K.M. D e Silva d e s c rib e s it; it is a ls o
a n in te g ra l p a r t of a h u m a n - m a d e w a te r a n d soil c o n s e rv a tio n
ecos y s te m . Its p re s e rv a tio n is th e re fo re n o t o n ly o f In te re st to
E H eliterati a t a h ig h e r p la n e , a s a m a tte r c o n c e rn in g th e
h e ritag e of h u m a n k in d t h a t m u s t b e p re se rv e d , b u t a lso , a t
th e m o re m u n d a n e level o f th e p e titio n e rs a n d t h o u s a n d s
o f o th e r s like th e m w h o d e p e n d o n th e c o n tin u e d a n d
efficient fu n c tio n in g o f t h a t e c o sy s te m f o r th e p u rsu it o f their
occupations a n d in d e e d f o r su sta in in g their ve ry lives, a m a tte r
of g rav e a n d im m e d ia te p e rs o n a l c o n c e rn .

T h e r e s p o n d e n ts a n d th e ir le a rn e d c o u n s e l s u b m it t h a t
e n v iro n m e n ta l c o n c e r n s h a v e b e e n su fficie n tly a d d r e s s e d in
th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t.

T h e 1st r e s p o n d e n t in h is affid av it s ta te d t h a t e x p lo ra tio n

a n d m in in g l ic e n c e s c a n n o t b e i s s u e d i n r e s p e c t o f
a r c h a e o lo g ic a l r e s e r v e s . P l a n t s fo r t h e p r o d u c t i o n of
p h o s p h o ric a c id a n d s u lp h u r ic a c id c a n n o t b e c o n s tr u c te d
b e fo re c o m p lia n c e w ith th e E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t p r o c e s s p r e s c r ib e d b y th e N a tio n a l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct. If a n d w h e n th e A g re e m e n t is e n te r e d in to ,
th e P ro ject C o m p a n y is re q u ire d to c a rry o u t e x p lo ra tio n a n d
feasib ility s tu d ie s a fte r w h ic h th e p ro je c t is re q u ire d to s u b m it
its e lf to th e EIA p r o c e s s b e fo re m in in g is c o m m e n c e d . A
d e ta ile d M ine R e s to ra tio n P la n a n d a M ine R e s to ra tio n B ond
a re re q u ire d . M oreover th e C o m p a n y is re q u ire d to co m p ly
w ith th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f th e M in es a n d M in e ra ls A ct, th e
N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e M ah aw eli A u th o rity A ct
a n d to c o n d u c t its o p e ra tio n s so a s to m in im iz e h a r m to th e
e n v iro n m e n t, p ro te c t n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s , d isp o s e of w a s te in a
m a n n e r c o n s is te n t w ith good w a s te d is p o s a l p ra c tic e s a n d in
g e n e ra l to p ro v id e for th e h e a lth a n d sa fe ty o f its e m p lo y e e s
a n d th e local c o m m u n ity a n d a ls o b e re s p o n s ib le fo r th e
2 94 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri UR

“re a s o n a b le p re s e rv a tio n of th e n a tu r a l e n v iro n m e n t w ith in

w h ic h th e P roject C o m p a n y o p e ra te s .” T h e 1st re s p o n d e n t
f u r th e r s ta te d t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t is em pow ered to s u s p e n d
th e o p e ra tio n s of th e C o m p a n y “if it d e te rm in e s t h a t severe
e n v ir o n m e n ta l d a m a g e a s s o c ia te d w ith th e C o m p a n y 's
v io la tio n of a p p lic a b le law is re s u ltin g from th e C o m p a n y ’s
o p e r a tio n s w h ic h th e C o m p a n y h a s failed to r e m e d y .”
A tte n tio n is d ra w n to th e m a in te n a n c e of a n E n v iro n m e n t
R e s to ra tio n E scro w A c c o u n t, th e re q u ire m e n t to fu rn is h a
M ines R e sto ra tio n B ond w h ic h , h e s ta te s , “w ould be a d e q u a te
to cover a n y e n v iro n m e n ta l d a m a g e a n d to effect th e n e c e s s a ry
re s to ra tio n w o rk .” In h is o p in io n , sin c e th e re a re a d e q u a te
s a fe g u a rd s in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t “to m a k e th e C o m p an y
r e s p o n s ib le to ta k e n e c e s s a r y s te p s to m in im iz e a n d
r e h a b ilita te a n y d a m a g e to th e e n v ir o n m e n t a n d lo ca l
c o m m u n ity ”, th e 1st r e s p o n d e n t c o n c lu d e s t h a t “it is
p r e m a tu r e to form a n o p in io n o n th e n a tu r e a n d e x te n t of th e
e n v iro n m e n ta l d a m a g e w h ic h m a y ta k e p lac e d u e to th is
p ro je c t.”

T h e D ire c to rs of th e 5th a n d 7th re s p o n d e n ts s ta te d in th e ir

a ffid av its t h a t in th e in tro d u c tio n to th e a g re e m e n t it is s ta te d
a s follows: “(D) In th e p ro c e s s o f d e v elo p in g m in e ra l re s o u rc e s ,
th e G o v e rn m e n t gives h ig h p rio rity to th e p ro te c tio n of th e
e n v iro n m e n t a n d a v o id a n c e of w a s te a n d m is u s e of its
re s o u rc e s . (F) T h e C o m p a n y [5th R esp o n d e n t] is re a d y a n d
w illing to p ro ce e d in th e s e u n d e rta k in g s , a n d to a s s u m e th e
r is k s in h e r e n t th e re in in e x c h a n g e for th e rig h ts a n d b e n e fits
h e re in p ro vided, a ll p u r s u a n t to th e te rm s a n d c o n d itio n s
s e t fo rth in th e a g re e m e n t.” It is s ta te d t h a t u n til th e
E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t A s s e s s m e n t a n d F e a sib ility s tu d y
a re d o n e , th e c o n c e rn s s e t o u t in th e p e titio n c a n n o t be
s a tis fa c to rily a d d re s s e d . T h e E x p lo ra tio n L icences is s u e d to
th e 6 th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts a re s u b je c t to th e rig h ts of th e
o w n e r o r o c c u p a n t of th e la n d co v ered by th e licen ce a n d to th e
p ro v is io n s o f th e M ines a n d M in e ra ls A ct a n d th e re g u la tio n s
m a d e th e r e u n d e r . T h ey s ta te t h a t th e y w o u ld b rin g to b e a r
c u r r e n t tec h n o lo g y for b o th p h o s p h o ric a n d s u lp h u r ic acid
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 295
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.)________________

w h ic h h a v e m itig a te d v ery n e a rly a ll o f th e p o llu tio n a s p e c ts of

s u c h p la n ts . All th is will b e s u b je c t to th e EIA a n d F e a sib ility
S tu d y . T h ey s u b m itte d th e IMC G lobal E n v iro n m e n ta l, H e a lth
a n d S a fety S ta n d a r d s a n d G u id e lin e s M a n u a l in s u p p o r t of
th e ir a v e rm e n t th a t th e B o ard o f D ire c to rs o f IMC h a d a d o p te d
a very specific a n d e n fo rc e a b le policy to w a rd s e n v iro n m e n ta l,
h e a lth a n d sa fe ty policies. T h e y s ta te t h a t w ith th e m e rg e r of
M acM oran Inc. in to IM L-G lobal In c., F re e p o rt M acM oran
c e a s e d to e x ist. T h is w a s a p a r t o f th e c o n s o lid a tio n o c c u rrin g
in th e fertilizer in d u s tr y a t th e tim e a n d n o t a n a tte m p t to h id e
th e fo rm e r F re e p o rt M acM oran In c .’s in v o lv e m e n t in S ri L a n k a
o n th e p ro je c t. W h a t tro u b le s th e p e titio n e rs is t h a t a lth o u g h
F re e p o rt M acM o ran w ith a b a d re c o rd o n p o llu tio n h a s c e a s e d
to exist, its s p irit ro a m s d o in g im p o r ta n t th in g s , s u c h a s se e in g
th e P re s id e n t (see P.4) a n d in itia llin g th e fin a l d r a f t o f th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t. W hile liab ilities a re p la c e d o n S a ra b h u m i,
a sm a ll lo cal c o m p a n y , w h e re a s th e d e c is io n to a c c e p t th e
te n d e r w a s b a s e d o n th e size a n d c a p a c ity of th e m u lti-n a tio n a l
g ia n t F re e p o rt M acM oran.

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e r e s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d t h a t in
te rm s o f A rticle VII of th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t, th e r e h a s to b e
a feasib ility s tu d y a n d a re p o rt th e re o n . T h e r e p o rt m u s t h a v e
a s e c tio n re p o rtin g th e r e s u lts o f e n v ir o n m e n ta l im p a c t
s tu d ie s a s d e s c rib e d in A n n e x E to th e A g re e m e n t. T h e s e c tio n
o f th e re p o rt will be p re p a re d by a n a p p ro p ria te ly q u alified
i n te r n a tio n a lly re c o g n iz e d i n d e p e n d e n t c o n s u lt in g firm
a p p ro v e d b y th e G o v e rn m e n t. T h e s tu d y m u s t m e e t th e
re q u ir e m e n ts o f A rticle 25. A rticle 2 5 .2 p ro v id e s a s follows:

“T h e C o m p a n y s h a ll in c lu d e in th e F e a sib ility S tu d y a n
e n v iro n m e n ta l s tu d y in re la tio n to all e n te r p r is e a c tiv itie s in
a c c o rd a n c e w ith A pp licab le Law, a n d s h a ll a ls o id en tify a n d
a n a ly z e a s p a r t o f th e F e a sib ility S tu d y th e p o te n tia l im p a c t
of th e o p e ra tio n s o n la n d , w a te r, a ir, biological re s o u r c e s
a n d s o c ia l, e c o n o m ic , c u lt u r e a n d p u b lic h e a lt h . T h e
e n v iro n m e n ta l s tu d y w ill a ls o o u tlin e m e a s u r e s w h ic h th e
C o m p a n y in te n d s to u s e to m itig a te a d v e rs e e n v iro n m e n ta l
296 Sri Lanka Lau> Reports 120001 3 Sri LR.

im p a c ts o f th e E n te rp r is e (in c lu d in g w ith o u t lim ita tio n

d isp o s a l o f o v e rb u rd e n a n d tailin g s a n d co n tro l of p h o s p h a te
a n d flu o rin e em issio n s) a n d for re s to rin g a n d re h a b ilita tin g
th e c o n tra c t A rea a n d a n y P roject A re a s a t th e te rm in a tio n of
th is A g re e m e n t. T h e F e a s ib ility S tu d y s h a ll p ro v id e a n
e s tim a te of th e c o s t o f s u c h re s to ra tio n a n d re h a b ilita tio n . T he
F easib ility S tu d y s h a ll a lso in c lu d e p ro c e d u re s a n d s c h e d u le s
re la tin g to th e m a n a g e m e n t, m o n ito rin g , p ro g ressiv e co n tro l,
co rrectiv e m e a s u r e s a n d th e re h a b ilita tio n a n d re s to ra tio n of
all C o n tra c t A re a s a n d P ro ject A reas in re la tio n to all ad v e rse
effects o n th e e n v iro n m e n t a s a re id en tified in th e F easib ility
S tu d y . T h e S tu d y will a lso provide a n e s tim a te of th e c o s t of
s u c h a c tiv itie s .”

Article 2 5 .1 provides as follows:

“T h e C o m p a n y s h a ll in re la tio n to all m a tte r s c o n n e c te d

w ith th e E n te rp ris e co m p ly w ith th e M ines a n d M in erals Act,
No. 3 0 of 1992, th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l Act, No. 47 of 1980
(as a m e n d e d by E n v iro n m e n ta l Act No. 56 of 1988, th e
M ah aw eli A u th o rity o f S ri L a n k a Act, No. 2 3 of 1979, th e
R e g u la tio n s m a d e th e r e u n d e r a n d all o th e r A pplicable Law
a n d g e n e ra lly p rev a ilin g s ta n d a r d s for m in in g o p e ra tio n s.
W ith o u t in a n y w ay d e ro g a tin g from th e effect of th e above
m e n tio n e d A p p lic a b le L aw a n d m in in g s t a n d a r d s , th e
C o m p a n y s h a ll c o n d u c t a ll its o p e r a tio n s u n d e r th is
A g re e m e n t so a s to m in im iz e h a rm to th e e n v iro n m e n t
(in c lu d in g b u t n o t lim ite d to m in im iz in g p o llu tio n a n d h a rm fu l
e m is s io n s ), to p ro te c t n a tu r a l r e s o u rc e s a g a in s t u n n e c e s s a ry
d a m a g e , to d isp o s e of w a s te in a m a n n e r c o n s is te n t w ith good
w a s te d is p o s a l p ra c tic e s , a n d in g e n e ra l to p rovide for th e
h e a lth a n d sa fe ty of its e m p lo y e es a n d th e local c o m m u n ity .
T h e c o m p a n y s h a ll b e re s p o n s ib le for re a s o n a b le p re s e rv a tio n
o f th e n a t u r a l e n v ir o n m e n t w ith in w h ic h th e C o m p a n y
o p e ra te s a n d for ta k in g n o a c ts w ith o u t G o v e rn m e n t ap p ro v a l
w h ic h m a y b lo c k o r lim it th e f u r th e r d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e
re s o u r c e s o u ts id e th e m in in g a n d p ro c e s s in g a r e a s . . . ”
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 297
Development and Others (Arnerasinghe, J.)________________

L earn ed c o u n s e l for th e re s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d t h a t u n til

th e feasib ility s tu d y is d o n e a n d th e d e v e lo p m e n t p la n is
p re p a re d , th e re is n o w ay o f fin d in g o u t th e lo c a tio n o f th e m in e
a n d m e th o d o f m in in g a n d w h e th e r in te r m s of th e p ro je c t
a n y b o d y will be re lo c a te d . In te r m s o f th e a g re e m e n t, a fte r
th e p r e p a r a tio n a n d s u b m is s io n of th e feasib ility s tu d y , if
th e C o m p a n y d e c id e s to p ro c e e d w ith c o n s tru c tio n , it m u s t
s u b m i t a d e v e lo p m e n t p l a n w i t h its , a p p l i c a t i o n f o r
c o n s tr u c tio n to th e S e c re ta ry , w h o m a y w ith h o ld a p p ro v a l for
p ro c e e d in g w ith th e p ro je c t.

In te rm s o f A rticle 7 .7 , “if a n d o n ly if th e S e c re ta ry
d e te rm in e s t h a t im p le m e n ta tio n o f th e D e v e lo p m e n t P la n
to g e th e r w ith a n y m o d ific a tio n s th e r e o f w h ic h m a y b e reflec ted
in th e C o m p a n y ’s a p p lic a tio n to c o n s tr u c t a n d o p e ra te : (a) will
n o t r e s u lt in efficient d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e m in e ra l re s o u rc e , (b)
is likely to r e s u lt in d isp ro p o rtio n a te ly a n d u n re a so n a b ly
d a m a g in g th e s u r r o u n d in g E n v iro n m e n t, (c) is lik ely to
u n rea so n a b ly lim it th e f u r th e r d e v e lo p m e n t p o te n tia l o f th e
m in e ra l re s o u rc e s w ith in th e M in in g A rea, o r (d) is likely to
h a v e a m aterial a d v e rs e effect o n th e so cio -p o litical s ta b ility
in th e a re a w h ich is not o ffset b y th e p o te n tia l b en efits o f
th e project o r b y m itig a tin g m e a s u r e s in c o rp o ra te d in to th e
D e v e lo p m e n t P lan. T h e d e c is io n s h a ll n o t b e u n r e a s o n a b ly
d elay ed a n d , in lig h t of sig n ific a n t e x p e n d itu re of tim e, effort
a n d m o n ey w h ic h will h a v e b e e n u n d e r ta k e n by th e C o m p a n y ,
a p p ro v a l s h a ll b e g r a n te d in th e a b s e n c e of sign ifican t a n d
overriding justification.'' T h e A rticle goes o n to s ta te t h a t if th e
S e c re ta ry h a s a n y o b je c tio n s o r s u g g e s tio n s , th e y s h o u ld b e
c o m m u n ic a te d to th e C o m p a n y , a n d in th e e v e n t o f a n y
m u tu a lly a c c e p ta b le r e s o lu tio n n o t b e in g r e a c h e d , th e
C o m p a n y m a y refe r th e m a tte r to a r b itr a tio n u n d e r A rticle XX
a s to w h e th e r th e S e c re ta r y h a d “s u b s ta n t ia l c a u s e for
w ith h o ld in g a p p r o v a l o f th e F e a s ib ility S t u d y R e p o r t,
D ev elo p m en t P la n a n d a p p lic a tio n to c o n s tr u c t a n d o p e ra te ,
a n d if s u b s ta n tia l c a u s e is d e te rm in e d to h a v e n o t e x iste d , th e
S e c re ta ry s h a ll p ro m p tly is s u e h is (her) a p p ro v a l o f s u c h
R eport, P la n a n d a p p lic a tio n . . .” (The e m p h a s is is m ine.)
29 8 Sri Lanka Law Reports [2000] 3 Sri L.R.

L e a rn e d c o u n se l for th e 5 lh a n d 7 th re s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d
t h a t if th e S e c re ta ry w rongfully a p p ro v e d th e feasibility stu d y ,
it is “only a t t h a t stag e, if a t a ll” p e rs o n s will b e a b le to c h a llen g e
m a tte r s in C o u rt. How w o u ld th e p e titio n e rs know a fte r th e
F e a sib ility S tu d y o r D ev elo p m en t P la n t h a t th ey a re likely to be
affected, for in te r m s of A rticle 7 .9 , s u b je c t to th e p ro v isio n s of
A rticle 5 .5 , th e F easib ility S tu d y a n d D evelopm ent P la n a re to
b e tre a te d a s “c o n fid e n tia l”. T h e G o v e rn m e n t m a y in te rm s
o f A rticle 5 .5 d isc lo se “d a te a n d in fo rm a tio n w h ic h th e
G o v e rn m e n t d e te rm in e s in good fa ith is n e c e s s a ry to d isclo se
to th ird p a rtie s in o rd e r to p ro te c t th e n a tio n a l in te r e s ts of
S ri L a n k a ”; b u t w h a t is th e g u a ra n te e t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t
will re le a s e th e F easib ility S tu d y a n d D ev elo p m en t P lan w h e n
th e y a re av a ilab le ? T h e p e titio n e rs a n d o th e r p e rs o n s w ho m ay
b e affected will p ro b a b ly be n o b e tte r in fo rm ed th a n th ey w ere
a t th e tim e of m a k in g th is a p p lic a tio n . In m y view, th e
p e titio n e rs d ecid ed w isely in co m in g before th e C o u rt w h e n
th e y did. M oreover, w ho m a y se e k ju d ic ia l review if d a m a g e is
c a u s e d to a c u ltu r a l m o n u m e n t o r th e c u ltu r a l m o n u m e n t or
c u ltu r a l h e rita g e la n d s c a p e o f J a y a - g a n g a ? F u rth e r, in m y
view, th e w o rd s e m p h a s is e d a re so v a g u e a s to co n fe r a
p ra c tic a lly u n lim ite d d isc re tio n o n th e S e c re ta ry . T hey a re so
b ro a d ly fra m e d so a s to m a k e ju d ic ia l review very difficult
in d ee d . In a n y ev en t, w h a t is th e re m e d y availab le to a n y o n e ,
if th e S e c re ta ry ’s d e c isio n is p u r s u a n t to a n a rb itra l a w a rd ?

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e r e s p o n d e n ts s ta te d th a t, sin c e th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t e x p re s s ly p ro v id e s for c o m p lia n c e by th e
C o m p a n y w ith A pplicable Law, in c lu d in g th e M ines a n d
M in e ra ls A ct a n d th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l Law a n d th e
re g u la tio n s m a d e th e r e u n d e r , a n d s in c e th e C o m p a n y will be
s u b je c t to th e “s tr in g e n t” re q u ir e m e n ts of th e lic e n ce s is s u e d
for e x p lo ra tio n a n d m in in g , th e fe a rs o f th e p e titio n e rs a re
u n fo u n d e d a n d “co n je c tu r a l”. S e c tio n 30(1) of th e M ines a n d '
M in e ra ls 'A c F s fa fe s t h a t n o licen ce s h a ll be is s u e d to a n y
p e rs o n to explore for o r m in e a n y m in e ra ls u p o n , a m o n g o th e r
p la c e s , “a n y la n d s itu a te d w ith in s u c h d is ta n c e o f a lake,
s tr e a m o r ta n k o r b u n d w ith in th e m e a n in g of th e C row n L a n d s
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 2 99
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)

O rd in a n c e (C h a p te r 454), a s m a y b e p re s c rib e d , w ith o u t th e

a p p ro v a l of th e M in iste r a n d th e M in iste r in c h a rg e o f th e
s u b je c t of L a n d s ”; “a n y la n d s itu a te d w ith in s u c h d is ta n c e of
a c a tc h m e n t a r e a w ith in th e m e a n in g of th e C ro w n L a n d s
O rd in a n c e (C h a p te r 454) a s m a y b e p re s c rib e d w ith o u t th e
a p p ro v a l of th e M in iste r a n d th e M in iste r in c h a rg e o f th e
s u b je c t of L a n d s." S e c tio n 31 of th e M ines a n d M in e ra ls A ct
p ro v id e s t h a t n o licen ce s h a ll b e issu e d - to a n y p e rs o n to
explore for, o r m in e a n y m in e ra l u p o n “(a) a n y la n d s itu a te d
w ith in s u c h d is ta n c e of a n y a n c ie n t m o n u m e n t s itu a te d o n
S ta te la n d or a n y p ro te c te d m o n u m e n t, a s is p re s c rib e d u n d e r
se c tio n 2 4 of th e A n tiq u itie s O rd in a n c e (C h a p te r 188); a n d (b)
a n y la n d d e c la re d by th e A rch aeo lo g ical C o m m is s io n e r to be
a n a rc h a e o lo g ic a l re s e rv e u n d e r s e c tio n 3 3 o f th e s a id
O rd in a n c e ."

O n e w o n d e rs w h e th e r th e p ro v isio n s o f th e M in es a n d
M in e ra ls A ct re la tin g to la k e s , s tr e a m s a n d b u n d s a n d
c a tc h m e n t a re a s a s d e fin e d b y re fe re n c e to th e C ro w n L a n d s
O rd in a n c e su fficie n tly p ro te c t th e w a te r a n d soil c o n s e rv a tio n
e c o sy ste m o f th e a re a a ffected b y th e p ro p o se d p ro je c t. No
ev id en ce w a s p lac e d before, th is C o u rt a s to w h e th e r a n y la n d
in th e e x p lo ra tio n , m in in g , c o n tr a c t o r p ro je c t a r e a s h a s b e e n
p re s c rib e d u n d e r th e law a s b e in g la n d w ith in p re s c rib e d
d is ta n c e s from a n c ie n t m o n u m e n ts a n d w h a t la n d h a s b e e n
d e c la re d to b e a n a rc h a e o lo g ic a l re s e rv e . M oreover, n o
p ro v isio n e x is ts for th e p re s e rv a tio n of a c u ltu r a l h e rita g e
la n d s c a p e , like th e J a y a G a n g a , a s d is tin g u is h e d fro m
a m o n u m e n t, le st th e r e b e so m e d is p u te a b o u t th e w ord
‘m o n u m e n t’: No law s c a n e x p re s s ly p rovide for all s itu a tio n s .
H ow ever, th e le g is la tu re h a s fo re se e n th e n e e d to p ro v id e
a g a in s t o m is s io n s a n d s ta te d in s e c tio n 30(2) a s follows:

“In a d d itio n to a n y o th e r c o n d itio n t h a t m a y be p re s c rib e d

u n d e r th is Act, th e M in iste r o r th e M in is te rs . . . m ay , in
g r a n tin g a p p ro v a l fo r a lic e n ce u n d e r s u b s e c tio n (1), la y d o w n
s u c h f u r th e r c o n d itio n s , a s m a y be d e te rm in e d by s u c h
300 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri UR.

M in iste r o r M in isters. W h ere a p p ro v a l is g ra n te d s u b je c t to

a n y f u r t h e r c o n d itio n s , th e B u r e a u s h a ll c a u s e s u c h
c o n d itio n s to be specified in th e licence."

At th e p r e s e n t tim e, w h e n th e r e h a s b e e n no F easibility
S tu d y a n d n o D ev elo p m en t P la n , a n d , m oreover, w h e n th e re
is n o g u a ra n te e t h a t s u c h s tu d y a n d p la n will ever be m a d e
k n o w to th e m , how c o u ld th e p e titio n e rs feel a s s u r e d t h a t th e ir
in d iv id u a l a n d collective rig h ts will b e p ro te c te d ? T h ere m ay be
c o n d itio n s t h a t m a y b e p re s c rib e d u n d e r se c tio n 30(2) of th e
M ines a n d M in erals A ct to s a fe g u a rd th e ir in te re s ts a n d th e
in te r e s ts of th e people o f S ri L a n k a , a n d in d eed of h u m a n k in d .
B u t h o w is th is p o ssib le w ith o u t a p ro p e r e v a lu a tio n of
th e p ro je c t? A r e p o r t fro m a n “a p p ro p ria te ly q u alified",
“in te rn a tio n a lly reco g n ized in d e p e n d e n t e n v iro n m e n ta l firm
se le c te d by th e C o m p a n y a n d a p p ro v e d by th e G o v e rn m e n t”,
is of little o r no u s e to th e p e titio n e rs a n d c o n c e rn e d m e m b e rs
o f th e p u b lic , h a v in g re g a rd to th e p ro v isio n s in th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t re g a rd in g “c o n fid e n tia lity .”

F o r th e r e a s o n s s e t o u t above, I a m of th e view t h a t th e re
is, w ith in th e m e a n in g of th e C o n s titu tio n , a n im m in e n t
in frin g e m e n t of th e p e titio n e r’s rig h ts g u a ra n te e d by A rticle
14(l)(g) a n d (h) o f th e C o n s titu tio n .

ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 1 2(1) OF THE

CONSTITUTION,

T h e C h a irm a n /D ir e c to r G e n e ra l of th e 2 nd re s p o n d e n t in
a le tte r d a te d M a rc h 3 0 , 1998 (P.7) q u o te s th e follow ing
from th e E x e c u tiv e S u m m a ry o f th e re p o rt of th e P re s id e n t’s
C o m m itte e d a te d th e 9 th o f M ay 1995: “a n y larg e -sc a le v e n tu re
h a s th e p o te n tia l to c a u s e a n a d v e rs e e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t,
y e t it c o u ld g e n e ra te s u b s ta n tia l re v e n u e to th e c o u n try . It is
a ls o re c o m m e n d e d t h a t th e rig o ro u s ELA p ro c e d u re s laid dow n
b y th e law b e follow ed b e fo re a n y jo in t v e n tu re p ro p o sa l is
im p le m e n te d b e c a u s e o f th e p o s s ib le e n v iro n m e n ta l r is k s
a s s o c ia te d w ith p ro je c ts o f th is n a tu r e ."
 sc Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 301
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l fo r th e r e s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d t h a t
A rticle XXV o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t o b lig es th e C o m p a n y to
com ply w ith th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct No. 4 7 o f 1 9 8 0 a s
a m e n d e d b y A ct, No. 5 6 of 1 9 8 8 a n d th e re g u la tio n s m a d e
th e re u n d e r. In th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , th e C o m p a n y is obliged to
s u b m it a n E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t A s s e s s m e n t in te r m s of
P a rt IV C of th e Act.

T h e p ro p o s e d a g re e m e n t m a k e s n o re fe re n c e to th e
p r e p a r a tio n o r s u b m is s io n o f a n y E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t a s re q u ire d b y th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct
a n d th e re g u la tio n s m a d e th e r e u n d e r . W h a t th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t d o e s, a s w e h a v e s e e n , is to p ro v id e for a n
e n v iro n m e n ta l s tu d y to b e p re p a re d b y a n in te r n a tio n a l firm ,
se le c te d by th e C o m p a n y a n d a p p ro v e d b y th e G o v e rn m e n t, a s
a p a r t o f its F e a sib ility S tu d y . (Article 7.6) “F e a sib ility S tu d y ”
is d efin ed in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t a s “a s tu d y to d e te rm in e
th e feasib ility of co m m e rc ially d ev e lo p in g a n y d e p o s it or
d e p o s its id en tified by th e C o m p a n y d u r in g th e E x p lo ra tio n
P eriod, in c lu d in g th e ite m s s e t fo rth in A n n e x “E ”. A n n e x “E ”
s ta te s t h a t th e F e a sib ility S tu d y s h a ll in c lu d e “E n v iro n m e n ta l
im p a c t a n d m o n ito rin g s tu d ie s in to th e likely effects of
th e o p e ra tio n s of th e E n te rp ris e o n th e E n v iro n m e n t (su c h
s tu d ie s to b e c a rrie d o u t in c o n s u lta tio n w ith a n a p p ro p ria te ly
q u a lifie d in d e p e n d e n t c o n s u lt a n t a n d u n d e r th e te r m s
of re fe re n c e s e t o u t in A rticle XXV o f th is A g re e m e n t.”
(B ut cf. A rticle 7 .6 w h e re th e s tu d y is to b e “c o n d u c te d by
a n in te rn a tio n a lly in d e p e n d e n t e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n s u ltin g
firm . . .”)

N ot s u rp risin g ly , th e re fo re , a lth o u g h b o th th e D e p u ty
S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l a n d le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7 th
r e s p o n d e n ts a g re e d t h a t a n E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t w a s a r e q u ire m e n t o f th e law , th e y w e re u n a b le to
ag re e w h e n t h a t a s s e s s m e n t w a s to b e m a d e , a n d w h a t its
significance w a s in th e c o n te x t o f th e p ro p o s e d a g re e m e n t.
302 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri UR.

F irstly , th e re fo re , in te rm s of P rin cip le 17 of th e Rio De

J a n e i r o D e c la r a tio n , th e r e is n o G o v e rn m e n ta l Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t s u b je c t to “a d e c isio n o f a c o m p e te n t n a tio n a l
a u th o rity " , N or is th e a p p ro v a l of s u c h a n a u th o rity in te rm s
o f th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct c o n te m p la te d by th e
p ro p o s e d a g re e m e n t. W h a t d o e s e x is t in th e p ro p o s e d
a g re e m e n t is a n a s s u r a n c e t h a t th e “A p p lic a b le Law",
in c lu d in g th e p ro v isio n s of th e N atio n al E n v iro n m e n ta l Act,
w ill b e co m p lied w ith .

A cco rd in g to th e D e p u ty S olicito r-G en eral, th e C o m p a n y ’s

a p p lic a tio n to c o n s tr u c t a n d o p e ra te th e facility h a d to be
m a d e “a fte r o b ta in in g th e a p p ro v a l for th e feasib ility re p o rt,
in clu siv e o f th e ELA, a n d th e D ev elo p m en t P la n . . . " He s ta te d
t h a t “In th e e v e n t th e P ro ject A pproving A gency re fu s e s to
g r a n t a p p ro v a l for th e p ro je c t, th e p ro je c t c o m p a n y will h a v e
to a b a n d o n th e p ro je c t s u b je c t to a rig h t of a p p e a l to th e
S e c re ta ry of th e M in istry o f E n v iro n m e n t. M oreover, if th e
p ro je c t is a p p ro v e d a fte r a h e a rin g h a d b e e n given to th e
p u b lic , th e p e r s o n s w h o a re aggrieved will h av e a n o p p o rtu n ity
to co m e b e fo re th e C o u rt to h a v e th e d e c isio n q u a s h e d . T h ere
a re in s ta n c e s w h e re th e p u b lic h a v e in v o k ed th e ju ris d ic tio n
of th e S u p re m e C o u rt a n d th e C o u rt of A ppeal to s u s p e n d
d e v e lo p m e n t p ro je c ts s u c h a s th e p ro je c t p e rta in in g to th e
S o u th e rn E x p re ss w a y a n d th e K otm ale P ow er P ro je c t.”

A c c o r d in g to l e a r n e d c o u n s e l fo r t h e 5 th a n d 7 th
r e s p o n d e n t, “in th e f ir s t p lac e , a fte r th e feasib ility r e p o rt is
p re p a re d a n d th e d e v e lo p m e n t p la n is p re p a re d , th is p ro je c t
w ill be s u b m itte d to th e p ro je c t a p p ro v in g ag en cy , in th is c a se
th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity . T h e C .E .A ., t h a t is th e
s ta tu to r y a u th o r ity , m a y o r m a y n o t give its a p p ro v a l. If it d o e s
n o t give its a p p ro v a l, th e m a tte r e n d s th e r e .” “T h e p e rm is s io n
a n d a p p ro v a l of th e s ta tu to r y a u th o ritie s , in c lu d in g th e CEA,
is e s s e n tia l. If t h a t is n o t o b ta in e d , th e p ro je c t c o m e s to a n
e n d .” “If th e r e is a th r e a t to th e e n v iro n m e n t o r to th e p eople,
th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity will n o t p e rm it th e
 sc Bulankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 303
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.j_______________

pro ject to go a h e a d . T h e C.E.A. is th e s ta tu to r y a u th o r ity

v e s te d b y law to d e te r m in e th e m a t t e r .” “T h e C e n tr a l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity c a n re fu s e to p e rm it th e p ro je c t.
T h a t is fin a l.” If th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity d o e s give
its a p p ro v a l, th e feasib ility s tu d y , d e v e lo p m e n t p la n a n d th e
re p o rt o f th e in te r n a tio n a l firm o n e n v iro n m e n t, h e sa id , is
s u b m itte d to th e S e c re ta ry of th e M in is tiy o f I n d u s tr ie s , w h o
m a y re fu s e it o n th e g r o u n d s specified, in th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t. “It is o n ly a fte r th e fea sib ility s tu d y in c lu siv e of
th e D ev elo p m en t P la n (sic.) is a p p ro v e d b y all th e s ta tu to r y
a u th o r itie s in c lu d in g th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity
t h a t th e n e x t s ta g e will c o m m e n ce . T h e n e x t s ta g e is th e
c o n s tr u c tio n s ta g e .” R eferrin g to th e E n v iro n m e n t Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t a n d th e r e q u i r e m e n ts u n d e r th e N a tio n a l
E n v iro n m e n ta l Act a n d th e re g u la tio n s fra m e d th e r e u n d e r ,
le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7th r e s p o n d e n ts gave th e
a s s u r a n c e t h a t “all th o se s te p s will b e follow ed a fte r th e
feasib ility s tu d y is s u b m itte d to th e C.E.A . . . . T h e refo re th e
p u b lic w ill h a v e every rig h t o f p r o te s t a fte r th e feasib ility
s tu d y r e p o rt is s u b m itte d to th e C .E .A .” A s w e s h a ll see,
th e s u b m is s io n s o f le a rn e d c o u n s e l o n t h a t m a tte r w ere,
h a v in g re g a rd to th e s ta tu to r y re q u ir e m e n ts o f th e N a tio n a l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e re g u la tio n s fra m e d th e r e u n d e r ,
se rio u s ly flaw ed.

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 lh a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts in q u ire d
w h e th e r, a fte r b rin g in g in scien tific a n d te c h n ic a l e x p e rtis e n o t
a v a ilab le in th is c o u n try , a n d in v e s tin g U .S. $ 15 m illion n o t
a v a ila b le for in v e s tm e n t b y th e G o v e rn m e n t, it w a s too m u c h
for th e 5 th re s p o n d e n t to p ra y t h a t it b e p e rm itte d to p ro c e e d
w ith th e c o n s tr u c tio n in th e e v e n t o f th e s ta tu to r y a u th o r itie s
g ra n tin g a p p ro v a l, a n d th e S e c re ta ry a c c e p tin g th e F e a sib ility
R ep o rt a n d D ev elo p m en t P lan. L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d
7th re s p o n d e n ts sa id : “E q u ity , r ig h te o u s n e s s a n d fairp la y
d e m a n d s t h a t th e rig h ts o f all p a rtie s b e e q u a lly p ro te c te d ; for
all p e r s o n s a re e q u a l before th e law a n d s u c h p e rs o n s in c lu d e
th e 5 th a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts .”
304 Sri Lcmka Law Reports 1200013 Sri L.R.

T h e p e titio n e rs ’ s ta te t h a t th e ir rig h ts of e q u a l p ro te c tio n

u n d e r th e law a re in im m in e n t d a n g e r of b e in g infringed.

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5th a n d 7 th re s p o n d e n ts , o n th e
o th e r h a n d , s u b m itte d t h a t th e C o u rt s h o u ld n o t in terv en e “a t
th is s ta g e ”, for “th e p ro c e e d in g o f th e project", m ea n in g
p ro b a b ly th e sig n in g o f th e p ro p o se d A greem ent, “will only
r e s u lt in (a) e x p lo ra tio n , (b) feasib ility s tu d y ." He s ta te d th a t
“th e only co m fo rt (sic.) th e 5th a n d 7 th re s p o n d e n ts n e e d s a n d
th e only co m fo rt (sic.) th e 5 th re s p o n d e n t g e ts from th is
A g re e m e n t is t h a t a fte r th e e x p lo ra tio n a n d feasibility s tu d y is
d o n e , a n d if (a) th e s ta tu to r y a u th o r itie s g r a n t p erm issio n ;
(b) th e S e c re ta ry a c c e p ts th e feasib ility re p o rt, th a t th e 5 th
r e s p o n d e n t will be p e rm itte d to m in e s u b je c t to th e te rm s a n d
c o n d itio n s of th e A g reem en t a n d t h a t th e y be p e rm itte d to
m in e a s s e t o u t in th e feasib ility re p o rt s u b je c t to th e ap p ro v al
of th e S ta tu to ry A u th o rity ."

T h e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t is so fra m e d t h a t it g e n e ro u sly
s tr e n g th e n s , a s s is ts , s u p p o rts , a id s a n d a b e ts th e C o m p a n y ’s
d e s ig n s in r e s p e c t of all of th e m a tte r s re fe rre d to in th e
a n a ly s is o f le a rn e d c o u n s e l in d e a lin g w ith th e v a rio u s sta g e s
o f th e p ro je c t. A rticle 1 7 .3 1 h a v e q u o te d above is o n e exam ple.
T h e re a re o th e rs . E.g. see A rticles 2(2)(b)(i) a n d (iii) a n d (iv) a n d
(v), 6(f), 6(g), 6(h); 2.4 ; 2.5 ; 2 .2 1 ; 3 .2 ; 3.4(a) a n d (b); 6.1; 7.1;
7.8; 8 .2 ; 9 .3 ; 9 .4 ; 9 .7 ; 16.5; 16.6; 17.1; 17.6; 2 7 .7 . O nce th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t is sig n e d a n d c o n v e rte d in to a form al,
b in d in g c o n tr a c t, th e r e is little e lse th e G o v e rn m e n t c a n do
e x c e p t, u n d e r A rticle 2 0 .1 to re s o rt to a rb itra tio n . A nd th e re
will b e m u c h le s s th e p e titio n e rs , o r for t h a t m a tte r a n y one
else, w ho m a y b e a d v e rse ly affected, will b e a b le to do. T he
D e p u ty S o lic ito r-G e n e ra l s u b m itte d t h a t p e rs o n s w ho a re
aggrieved will h a v e a n o p p o rtu n ity to co m e before th e C o u rt.
T h e re m a y b e legal rig h ts o n p a p e r; b u t h o w m a n y in d iv id u al
p e o p le , in c lu d in g th e p e titio n e rs , if a n d w h e n th e y a re
a d v e rse ly a ffected b y th e p ro p o se d p ro je c t will b e ab le to
afford th e lu x u ry o f litig a tio n ? If th e y a re in fa c t ad v ersely
 sc Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 305
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.)________________

affected w h a t a re th e c h a n c e s t h a t th e y will b e a d e q u a te ly
c o m p e n sa te d ? T h e lia b ilitie s w ill n o t b e th o s e o f th e m u lti­
n a tio n a l g ia n t w h o se s ta n d in g in th e w o rld ’s fertiliz e r b u s in e s s
sc en e it is s a id w a s a d ecisiv e fa c to r in th e ir se le c tio n (see P .4
a t P .2 a n d a lso Cf. a t P.5), b u t o f S a r a b h u m i R e s o u rc e s
(Private) Ltd. - a locally in c o rp o ra te d lim ited liab ility C o m p a n y
w h ic h p r e s e n t ly h a s a n i s s u e d s h a r e c a p i t a l o f o n ly
Rs. 5 8 ,0 0 0 /-.

M oreover, le a r n e d c o u n s e l fo r th e p e titio n e r s d re w
a tte n tio n to th e in a d e q u a c y o f th e p ro te c tio n a ffo rd ed b y
A rticles 25.1 a n d 2 5 .3 o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t w ith re g a rd
to th e re p a ir of e n v iro n m e n ta l d a m a g e . T h e p e titio n e rs d id n o t
s h a re th e belief e x p re s s e d b y th e first r e s p o n d e n t in h is
affidavit o n th e a d e q u a c y o f th e s a fe g u a rd s b y w a y of
t h e p r o p o s e d E n v i r o n m e n t a l C o m p l ia n c e B o n d a n d
E n v i r o n m e n ta l R e s t o r a t i o n E s c r o w A c c o u n t a n d t h e
u n d e rta k in g s given w ith re g a rd to e n v iro n m e n ta l c o m p lia n c e
a n d re s to ra tio n . It s e e m s to m e t h a t th e p ro v is io n s in th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t o n th e m a tte r a re th e p r o d u c t o f o u td a te d
m a in s tr e a m eco n o m ic th o u g h t: T h ey a p p e a r to b e b a s e d o n
th e view s of p e rs o n s w h o a t b e s t n o m in a lly reco g n ize th e
e n v iro n m e n t or h a v e c o n s id e ra b le difficulty in p la c in g a ‘v a lu e ’
o n it. T o d ay , e n v ir o n m e n ta l p r o te c tio n , in th e lig h t o f
th e g e n e ra lly recognized “p o llu te r p a y s ” p rin c ip le (e.g. see
P rin c ip le 16 o f th e Rio D e c lara tio n ), c a n n o lo n g e r b e p e rm itte d
to b e e x te rn alize d by e c o n o m is ts m ere ly b e c a u s e th e y find
it too in sig n ific a n t o r too difficu lt to in c lu d e it a s a c o st
a s s o c ia te d w ith h u m a n activity. T h e c o s ts o f e n v iro n m e n ta l
d a m a g e sh o u ld , in m y view , b e b o rn e b y th e p a rty t h a t c a u s e s
s u c h h a rm , r a th e r t h a n b e in g allow ed to fall o n th e g e n e ra l
c o m m u n ity to b e p a id th r o u g h re d u c e d e n v iro n m e n ta l q u a lity
o r in c re a s e d ta x a tio n in o rd e r to m itig a te th e e n v iro n m e n ta lly
d e g ra d in g effects of a p ro je c t. T h is is a m a tte r th e C e n tra l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity m u s t ta k e in to a c c o u n t in e v a lu a tin g
th e p ro p o se d p ro je c t a n d in p re s c rib in g te r m s a n d c o n d itio n s .
306 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri L.R.

T h e sig n in g of th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t m ay, in th e
c irc u m s ta n c e s , p lea se , a n d even d elig h t th e C om pany, b u t
th e re is ju s tific a tio n for e x a m in in g th e p ro ject a s a w hole a t
th is s ta g e in de c id in g w h e th e r th o se d a n g e rs referred to by th e
p e titio n e rs m ig h t b e p e rm itte d to h a n g th re a te n in g ly over th e ir
h e a d s a n d re a d y to overcom e th e m in th e ev en t of th e sig n in g
o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t a n d th e e x e cu tio n of th e project.

F a irn e s s to all, in c lu d in g th e p e titio n e rs a n d th e people of

S ri L a n k a a s well a s th e 5 lh a n d 7th re s p o n d e n ts , r a th e r th a n
th e C o m p a n y ’s “co m fo rt”, s h o u ld b e o u r lo d e s ta r in doing
ju s tic e .

In te rm s o f P a rt (I) (6) of th e O rd e r of th e M inister o n th e 18“?

o f J u n e 1993 m a d e u n d e r se c tio n 23 Z of th e N ational
E n v iro n m e n ta l Act (vide G a ze tte E xtraordinary of 24. 06.
1993), th e p ro p o se d p ro ject, sin c e it re la te d to m in in g a n d
m in e ra l e x tra c tio n e ith e r c o n c e rn e d w ith in la n d d e e p m in in g
a n d m in e ra l e x tra c tio n involving a d e p th exceeding 2 5 m e tre s
a n d / o r in la n d s u rfa c e m in in g of a c u m u la tiv e a re a exceed in g
te n h e c ta re s , is a “p re s c rib e d project" w ith in th e m e a n in g of
s e c tio n 2 3 Z of th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l Act. As s u c h , in
te r m s of s e c tio n 23 AA of th e N atio n al E n v iro n m e n ta l Act, it is
a p ro je c t t h a t m u s t h a v e h a d th e ap p ro v a l of a pro ject
a p p ro v in g agency.

P ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n c ie s w ere, o n th e 18lho f J u n e , 1993

(G a z ette E xtraordinary, 24. 06. 1993) u n d e r p ow ers v e ste d
in h im , d e s ig n a te d by th e M in ister u n d e r se ctio n 2 3 Y of th e
N a tio n a l E n v ir o n m e n ta l A ct, a n d in c lu d e s th e C e n tra l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity . L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e p e titio n e rs ,
for s ta te d re a s o n s , u rg e d t h a t th e P ro ject A pproving A gency in
r e s p e c t of th e p ro je c t re la tin g to th e c a se before u s o u g h t to be
th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity . L earn ed c o u n s e l for th e
5 th a n d 7 th r e s p o n d e n ts in h is o ra l s u b m is s io n s , a n d m a n y
tim e s in h is w ritte n s u b m is s io n s , s ta te d o r im plied th a t
th e r e le v a n t p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n c y w a s th e C e n tra l
 sc Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry of Industrial 307
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)

E n v iro n m e n ta l A gency. H ow ever, a t o n e p la c e h e s u b m itte d

th a t th e p r e p a r a tio n o f th e T O R [T e rm s o f R eferen ce],
c o -o rd in a tio n a n d all a c tiv itie s w o u ld b e u n d e r ta k e n b y th e
C.E.A. a c tin g w ith (sic.) th e PAA.” A cco rd in g to th e m in u te s of
a m ee tin g h e ld o n th e 2 2 nd of J a n u a r y 1 9 98, s u b m itte d by
le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5th a n d 7 th re s p o n d e n ts ,

“D u rin g th e d is c u s s io n , it w a s e m p h a s is e d t h a t a s th is
is th e s in g le la r g e s t in v e s tm e n t w h ic h c o v e rs m in in g ,
tr a n s p o rta tio n a n d m a n u f a c tu r in g o f p h o s p h a te fertilizer
c o n sistin g o f b y -p ro d u c ts , it is difficult to p ro c e s s th is p ro je c t
a s re q u ire d u n d e r th e ELA re g u la tio n b y o n e sin g le P ro ject
A pproving A gency (PAA). T h erefo re it w a s s u g g e ste d th a t
th e p r e p a r a tio n of TO R [T erm s of R eference] a n d c o -o rd in a tio n
of all a c tiv itie s w o u ld b e u n d e r ta k e n b y th e G.E.A. a c tin g
a s th e PAA. A s s e s s m e n t of th e ELAR u n d e r m a in s u b s e c tio n s
of th e p ro je c t, i.e., m in in g , t r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d in d u s tr y
w ould b e c a rrie d o u t s im u lta n e o u sly by G S & MB, M in istry
in C h a rg e o f T r a n s p o r t a n d th e CEA re sp e c tiv e ly . T h is
m e c h a n is m w o u ld b e d ra w n u p a t th e n e x t m e e tin g of th e
c o n c ern e d a g e n c ie s .”

T h is C o u rt h a s n o ev id e n c e a s to w h a t h a p p e n e d a t “th e
n ex t m e e tin g ”, if th e re w a s s u c h a m ee tin g . I s h a ll, for th e
p u rp o s e s o f th is ju d g m e n t a s s u m e t h a t th e d e c isio n to m a k e
th e CEA th e p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n c y s ta n d s . B u t in a d d itio n
to th e te n ta tiv e d e c is io n o n th e m o d a litie s of c o o p e ra tio n
b etw een c o n c e rn e d a g e n c ie s a n d th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity a c tin g a s th e P ro ject A pp ro v in g A gency, a c c o rd in g to
th e m in u te s , it w a s a ls o d e c id e d a s follow s a t t h a t m eetin g :

“As th e e x p lo ra tio n a re a falls w ith in th e ju ris d ic tio n of

v a rio u s g o v e rn m e n t a g e n c ie s, it w a s s u g g e ste d t h a t th e s e
ag e n cie s too w o u ld w is h to in c o rp o ra te a d d itio n a l c o n d itio n s
if a n y to th e e x p lo ra tio n licen ce. D ire c to r/G S & MB a g re e d to
convene a f u r th e r m e e tin g w ith officials o f th e FD, DWLC,
MASL, BOI, a n d CEA for th is p u r p o s e .”
308 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri L.R

It w a s s ta te d a t th e m e e tin g t h a t "a p ro ject p ro p o sal

a n d a n e x p lo ra tio n p la n h a v e b e e n p re p a re d by th e project
p ro p o n e n t. H en ce Mr. U daya B o ra le ssa w a s re q u e s te d to
s u b m it 10 c o p ie s o f th e p ro p o sa l a n d 0 5 co p ies of th e
e x p lo ra tio n p la n to th e CEA, for d is trib u tio n a m o n g co n c ern e d
a g e n c ie s.” W ere th e c o p ie s received a n d d is trib u te d ? W ere
th e re a n y r e s p o n s e s ? T h is C o u rt d o e s n o t know , for no
evid en ce w a s p lac e d b efo re it o n th o se m a tte rs .

T h a t m ee tin g , I m ig h t o b serv e, in p a s sin g , w a s a tte n d e d

b y th e re p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f se v era l g o v e rn m e n t m in istrie s,
d e p a rtm e n ts a n d a g e n cie s, a n d by Mr. S. U sik o sh i a n d by
Mr. U d ay a B o ra le ssa . A ccording to th e evidence on record,
M r. U sik o sh i w a s th e G e n e ra l M a n ag e r o fT o m e n C o rp o ratio n
w h ic h h o ld s 25% of th e s h a r e s in th e p ro je c t co m p a n y a n d
M r. U d ay a B o ra le s s a w a s th e M an ag in g D irecto r of Novel Int.
a n d re p r e s e n te d IMC - Agrico. W h ich h o ld s a n in itia l equity
of 65% in th e 5th re s p o n d e n t. He is a D irecto r of th e 7lh
re s p o n d e n t.

A c c o rd in g to th e m in u te s of th e m e e tin g s u b m itte d
b y le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5th a n d 7th re s p o n d e n ts , th e
m e e tin g w a s c h a ir e d b y t h e D ir e c to r - G e n e r a l of th e
C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity w h o is s u p p o s e d to have
s ta te d “th e o b jec tiv e s of th e m e e tin g ”. W hy w a s th e m eetin g
h e ld ? W as th e r e a n a p p lic a tio n for th e a p p ro v a l of th e project?
O n w h a t d a te w a s s u c h a p p lic a tio n m a d e ? If a n a p p lic a tio n
for th e a p p ro v a l of th e p ro je c t w a s m a d e to th e CEA o r to
a n y o th e r p ro je c t a p p ro v in g ag en cy , w h y w a s no referen ce
w h a ts o e v e r m a d e e ith e r in th e p le a d in g s o r o ral o r w ritte n
s u b m is s io n s o f c o u n s e l for th e r e s p o n d e n ts ? W hy a s s ta te d
in th e m in u te s of th e m ee tin g , w a s Mr. B o ra le s s a “invited . . .
to m a k e a p r e s e n t a t i o n o n t h e p r o p o s e d p r o je c t fo r
th e in fo rm a tio n of p a r tic ip a n ts ,” if th e re w a s no project
p ro p o s a l b e fo re th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity a t
th e tim e?
 sc Bulankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 309
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

In te r m s of th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l (P ro c e d u re for

a p p ro v a l o f pro je c ts) R e g u la tio n s No. 1 o f 1993 (G o v e rn m e n t
G a ze tte E xtraordin ary o f th e 2 4 th o f J u n e 1993), h e re in a f te r
r e fe rre d to a s th e “NEA r e g u la tio n s ”, w h e n th e p ro je c t
p ro p o n e n t h a d th e go al o f u n d e r ta k in g th e m in in g p ro je c t a t
E p p a w e la a n d w a s activ ely p r e p a r in g to m a k e a d e c is io n in
a c h ie v in g t h a t g o al (see th e d e fin itio n o f “p ro je c t” in th e
NEA re g u la tio n s ), s u c h p ro p o n e n t s h o u ld h a v e m a d e a n
a p p lic a tio n to th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity (CEA) fo r
a p p ro v a l o f th e p ro je c t a s e a rly a s p o ssib le . T h e p ro je c t
p ro p o n e n t m ig h t th e n h a v e b e e n re q u ire d to s u b m it to th e CEA
p r e lim in a r y in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e p ro je c t, in c lu d in g a
d e s c rip tio n of th e n a tu r e , s c o p e a n d lo c a tio n o f th e p ro p o s e d
p ro je c t a c c o m p a n ie d b y lo c a tio n m a p s a n d o th e r d e ta ils ,
(see th e d e fin itio n of “p re lim in a ry in fo rm a tio n ” in th e NEA
r e g u la tio n s ). S u c h p re lim in a ry in fo rm a tio n w o u ld th e n h a v e
b e e n s u b je c te d to “e n v iro n m e n ta l sco p in g ", t h a t is, a m o n g
o th e r th in g s , d e te rm in in g th e ra n g e a n d s c o p e o f p ro p o s e d
a c tio n s , a lte rn a tiv e s a n d im p a c ts to b e d is c u s s e d in a n In itia l
E n v iro n m e n ta l E x a m in a tio n R e p o rt o r E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t
A s s e s s m e n t. (See th e d e fin itio n o f “e n v iro n m e n ta l s c o p in g ” in
th e NEA re g u la tio n s ). A m a tte r o f sig n ific a n c e is t h a t in th e
p r o c e s s o f ‘sc o p in g ’ a p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n cy , s u c h a s th e
C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity , is by law e m p o w e re d to
“ ta k e into con sideration th e v ie w s o f s ta te a g e n c ie s a n d th e
p u b lic .” (NEA re g u la tio n 6(ii)). H av in g re g a rd to th e c o n c e r n s
e x p re s s e d from tim e to tim e, th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity m ig h t h a v e e x p o se d th e m s e lv e s to a c h a rg e of b e in g
r e m is s in th e d u tie s o f a p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n c y h a d th e y
failed to in v ite a n d c o n s id e r th e view s of th e p u b lic . T h e
p u r p o s e o f all th is w a s to s e t th e T e rm s of R efe re n c e (TOR)
e ith e r for a n in itia l e n v iro n m e n ta l e x a m in a tio n re p o r t o r a n
e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t a s s e s s m e n t (EIA). W ith re g a rd to th e
p r o c e d u r e s to b e follow ed in c a s e th e a p p ro v a l o r re je c tio n o f
a p ro je c t b a s e d u p o n a n in itia l e n v iro n m e n ta l e x a m in a tio n
re p o rt, a tte n tio n is d ra w n to s e c tio n 2 3 o f th e N a tio n a l
E n v i r o n m e n ta l A c t r e a d w ith r e g u l a t i o n s 6 - 9 f r a m e d
th e r e u n d e r .
310 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000] 3 Sri LR.

T h e C e n tr a l E n v ir o n m e n ta l A u th o r ity w a s th e 4 >h
r e s p o n d e n t in th is c a s e a n d w a s re p re s e n te d by le a rn e d
c o u n s e l. H ow ever, n o a ffid a v its w e re filed by th e 4 lh
r e s p o n d e n t n o r w ere a n y o ra l o r w ritte n s u b m is s io n s m a d e on
b e h a lf o f th e 4 th re s p o n d e n t. T h e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity , th e f o u rth r e s p o n d e n t, s h o u ld n e v e rth e le s s in
c a rry in g o u t its d u tie s im p o se d u n d e r th e o rd e r m a d e in th is
ju d g m e n t, h a v e d u e re g a rd to a n d give effect to th e law.
in c lu d in g th e p rin c ip le s laid d o w n o r a c k n o w led g ed by th e
S u p re m e C o u rt in th e m a tte r b efo re th is C o u rt.

It w a s a s s u m e d by all th e o th e r r e s p o n d e n ts a n d th e
p e titio n e rs t h a t w h a t w o u ld b e re q u ire d by th e 4 lh re s p o n d e n t
for th e p u r p o s e o f c o n s id e rin g w h e th e r th e p ro p o se d pro ject
s h o u ld b e a p p ro v e d o r n o t w a s a n E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p act
A s s e s s m e n t, a n d t h a t if a n a p p lic a tio n h a d b e e n m a d e to th e
C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity for a p p ro v a l of th e p roject,
t h a t A u th o rity w o u ld in all p ro b a b ility , a fte r th e p ro c e ss of
's c o p in g ’ re fe rre d to above, w h ic h m ig h t, a s w e h a v e se en ,
in c lu d e d ta k in g a c c o u n t of th e view s o f s ta te a g e n c ie s a n d th e
p u b lic , h a v e c alled for a n E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t A s s e s s m e n t
fro m th e p ro je c t p r o p o n e n t o n th e b a s is of th e T e n n s
of R e fe re n c e d e te r m in e d b y th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity .

A tte n tio n is d ra w n , p a r tic u la r ly t h a t of th e C e n tra l

E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity , th e f o u rth r e s p o n d e n t, to P rinciple
17 o f th e Rio De J a n e ir o D e c la ra tio n w h ic h s ta te d a s follows:
" E n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t a s s e s s m e n t, a s a n a tio n a l in s tr u m e n t,
s h a ll b e u n d e r ta k e n for p ro p o s e d a c tiv itie s t h a t a re likely to
h a v e a sig n ific a n t a d v e rs e im p a c t o n th e e n v iro n m e n t a n d a re
s u b je c t to a d e c is io n o f a c o m p e te n t n a tio n a l a u th o rity ."
T h is is a n im p o r ta n t p ro c e d u ra l ru le d e sig n e d to facilitate
th e p re v e n tiv e (P rin c ip le s 6 a n d 7 o f S to c k holm ) a n d
p r e c a u t i o n a r y ( P r in c ip le 15 o f Rio) p r in c ip le a lr e a d y
m e n tio n e d a b o v e . I s h o u ld lik e to re m in d th e p e r s o n s
c o n c e rn e d , e sp ec ially th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity ,
t h a t a n e n v ir o n m e n ta l im p a c t a s s e s s m e n t e x e rc is e c a n
 SC Bulankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 311
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)_______________

id en tify th e p o te n tia l t h r e a ts o f a p ro p o se d a c tiv ity o r p ro je c t,

a n d t h a t th is in fo rm a tio n c a n t h e n b e u s e d to m odify th e
p ro p o se d ac tiv ity in o rd e r to ta k e th e s e th r e a ts in to a c c o u n t.
R em ed ial m e a s u r e s c a n a ls o b e in tr o d u c e d in o rd e r to m itig a te
o r re d u c e a n y p e rc e iv e d d e trim e n ta l im p a c ts of th e p ro je c t.
In t h is s e n s e , th e r e fo r e , a n e n v ir o n m e n ta l A ct c a n b e
in s tr u m e n ta l in e s ta b lis h in g e x a c tly w h ic h a r e a s o f th e
p r o p o s e d p r o je c t, o r a c tiv ity r e q u i r e . p r e c a u t i o n a r y o r
p r e v e n t iv e m e a s u r e s in o r d e r to e n s u r e t h e o v e r a ll
e n v iro n m e n ta l v iab ility o f th e p ro je c t.

W h ere th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity h a s re q u ire d

a n E n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t A s s e s s m e n t, th e law re q u ir e s s u c h
A u th o rity to d e te rm in e w h e th e r th e m a tte r s re fe rre d to b y th e
T e rm s of R eferen ce h a v e b e e n a d d r e s s e d b y th e p ro je c t
p r o p o n e n t, a n d if th e a s s e s s m e n t is d e te r m in e d to b e
in a d e q u a te , th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity is obliged to
re q u ire th e p ro je c t p r o p o n e n t to m a k e n e c e s s a ry a m e n d m e n ts
a n d to r e - s u b m it th e a s s e s s m e n t. U p o n re c e ip t of th e r e p o rt
r e la tin g to th e a s s e s s m e n t , th e C e n tr a l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity is re q u ire d b y law b y “p r o m p t n otice p u b lis h e d in th e
G a ze tte a n d in on e n ation al n e w s p a p e r p u b lis h e d d a ily in the
Sinhala, Tam il a n d E n glish L a n g u a g es ” to “in vite th e p u b lic to
m a k e w ritte n co m m en ts, if a n y , th e r e o n to th e C e n tra l
E n v ir o n m e n ta l A u th o r ity .” T h e law r e q u i r e s t h a t s u c h
n o tific a tio n "sh a ll sp e c ify th e tim es a n d p la c e s a t w h ich the
[ a s s e s s m e n t] re p o rt s h a ll b e m a d e a v a ila b le f o r p u b lic
in spection .” T h e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity is re q u ire d
by law to m a k e a v a ila b le co p ies to a n y p e rso n in te re ste d to
e n a b le him or her to m a k e copies. T h e law p ro v id e s t h a t a n y
m em b er o f th e p u b lic m a y w ith in th irty d a y s o f th e notification
p u b lis h e d in th e G a ze tte or n e w s p a p e r s referred to a b o ve, m a k e
his (sic.) c o m m en ts th ereon to th e C en tral E n viron m en tal
A uthority. S in c e s e c tio n 23 BB (3) re fe rs to m a k in g “h is o r its
c o m m e n ts " , h a v in g re g a rd to th e o b je c ts a n d s c h e m e o f th e
N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct. c o m m e n ts , for th e p u r p o s e s of
s e c tio n 2 3 BB of th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct, in m y view,
in c lu d e s c o m m e n ts fro m s ta tu to r y o r o th e r legal p e rs o n s , a s
312 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri L.R.

w ell a s o th e r o rg a n iz a tio n s, w h e th e r in c o rp o ra te d o r n o t a n d
re g a rd le s s of q u e s tio n s o f legal p e rso n a lity , a n d by a n y
in d iv id u al, r e g a rd le s s of g e n d e r.

I m ig h t o b serv e, in p a s sin g , t h a t it is tim e, in d ee d it is high

tim e, t h a t th e law s of th is c o u n try b e s ta te d in g e n d e r-n e u tra l
te r m s a n d t h a t law s fo rm u la te d in d isc rim in a to ry te rm s
s h o u ld n o t b e allow ed to ex ist, a lth o u g h p ro te c te d for th e tim e
b e in g a s “e x istin g law " w ith in th e m e a n in g of A rticle 16 of th e
C o n s titu tio n . T h e a rg u m e n t a d v a n c e d t h a t th e p ro v isio n in th e
law re la tin g to th e in te r p re ta tio n o f s ta tu te s t h a t “his" in c lu d e s
“h e r ” is c learly in su ffic ien t: it d isp la y s, in m y c o n sid e re d
o p in io n , a g ro ss ig n o ra n c e o r c a llo u s d is re g a rd of s u c h a
m a tte r of f u n d a m e n ta l im p o rta n c e a s th e fa c t t h a t th e re are
tw o sp e c ie s o f h u m a n s .

W h ere it c o n s id e rs a p p ro p ria te in th e p u b lic in te re s t, a n d

in th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s of th is c a se , I c a n n o t th in k th a t th e
C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity , h a v in g re g a rd to w h a t h a s
b e e n s ta te d above, w o u ld rea lly h a v e h a d a n y rea l ch oice in th e
m a tte r , th e A u th o rity is b y law obliged to afford all th o se w ho
m a d e c o m m e n ts a n o p p o rtu n ity to b e h e a rd in s u p p o rt of s u c h
c o m m e n ts . T h e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity is legally
obliged to h a v e re g a rd to s u c h c o m m e n ts , s u b m is s io n s a n d
a n y o th e r m a te ria ls , if a n y , elicited a t a h e a rin g in d e te rm in in g
w h e th e r to g r a n t its a p p ro v a l for th e p ro ject. U pon co m p letio n
o f th e p e rio d p re s c rib e d by law for p u b lic in s p e c tio n o r p u b lic
h e a rin g , if h eld , th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity is,
(h av in g re g a rd to th e p ro v isio n s o f s e c tio n 23 BB, re g u la tio n 12
of th e NEA re g u la tio n s a n d th e a u d i alteram p a rte m ru le - h e a r
th e o th e r side) re q u ire d by law to fo rw ard th e c o m m e n ts it
receiv ed a n d th e r e p r e s e n ta tio n s m a d e a t a n y h e a rin g to th e
p ro je c t p ro p o n e n t for re s p o n s e s . T h e p ro je c t p ro p o n e n t is
re q u ire d to re s p o n d in w ritin g to th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity . U p o n re c e ip t o f s u c h r e s p o n s e s , th e C e n tra l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity is by law re q u ire d , e ith e r to g r a n t
a p p ro v a l for th e im p le m e n ta tio n of th e p ro je c t, s u b je c t to
sp e cifie d c o n d itio n s , if a n y , o r to re fu s e a p p ro v a l for th e
 sc BuLankulama and Others u. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 313
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

im p le m e n ta tio n o f th e p ro je c t, w ith r e a s o n s for d o in g so.

If a p p r o v a l is g r a n t e d , t h e la w r e q u i r e s t h e C e n t r a l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity to publish in the Government Gazette
and in one national newspaper published daily in the Sinhala,
Tamil and English Languages the approval as determined.
F u r th e r , if a p p ro v a l is g ra n te d , th e r e m u s t b e a p la n o f
t h e C e n t r a l E n v i r o n m e n ta l A u t h o r it y to m o n it o r t h e
im p le m e n ta tio n o f th e p ro je c t. (See s e c tio n 2 3 BB o f th e
N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e NEA re g u la tio n s 10-13.)
W h e re th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity in its ro le a s th e
p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n c y r e f u s e s to g r a n t a p p ro v a l fo r a
p ro je c t s u b m itte d to it, th e p e rs o n o r b o d y o f p e rs o n s ag g riev ed
h a v e a rig h t of a p p e a l a g a in s t s u c h d e c is io n to th e S e c re ta ry
to th e M in istry re s p o n s ib le for th e a d m in is tra tio n o f th e
N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity c re a te d u n d e r it.

T h e r e a r e a ls o o t h e r p r o j e c t a p p r o v i n g a g e n c i e s
d e s ig n a te d by th e M in iste r, b u t th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity is, th e final a u th o r ity in r e s p e c t o f e n v iro n m e n ta l
m a tte r s . S ee a ls o NEA re g u la tio n s 6. (ii), 13, 14, 1 7 (ii)a n d 18).

A s w e h a v e se e n , le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e r e s p o n d e n ts
w ere all, in m y view, c o rre c tly , a g re e d t h a t if th e C e n tra l
E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity r e f u s e s to a p p ro v e th e p ro je c t, t h a t
is a n e n d o f th e m a tte r, s u b je c t, o f c o u rs e , to th e rig h t of
a p p e a l.

T h e s e s a lu ta r y p ro v is io n s o f th e law h a v e n o t b e e n
o b se rv e d . In te r m s o f th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t, a lth o u g h th e r e
is a n u n d e r ta k in g to co m p ly w ith th e law s o f th e c o u n try ,
w h ic h in m y view , is a n u n n e c e s s a r y u n d e rta k in g , for every
p e rs o n , n a tu r a l o r c o rp o ra te m u s t in o u r so c ie ty w h ic h is
g o v e rn e d by th e ru le o f law , c o m p ly w ith th e law s o f th e
re p u b lic , \ y h a t is a tte m p te d to b e d o n e is to c o n tr a c t o u t o f th e
o b lig a tio n to co m p ly w ith th e law . T h e A rtic les of th e p ro p o s e d
a g re e m e n t d e a lin g w ith m a tte r s c o n c e rn in g e n v iro n m e n ta l
is s u e s , r e a d w ith th e p ro v isio n o n c o n fid e n tia lity , in m y view ,
314 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri UR.

a tte m p t to q u ell, a p p e a s e , a b a te , o r even, u n d e r th e g u ise of a

b in d in g c o n tra c t, to legally p u t d o w n o r e x tin g u ish , pu b lic
p r o te s ts . L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e 5 th a n d 7th re s p o n d e n ts
s ta te d t h a t S ri L a n k a “d o e s n o t p o s s e s s th e scientific k n o w l­
edge o r th e te c h n ic a l k n o w -h o w o r th e fin a n c e s to develop th is
n a tu r a l re s e rv e .” I c a n n o t a c c e p t th e a s s e r tio n that. Sri L an k a
d o e s n o t h a v e s c ie n tis ts w h o c a n g u id e th e c o u n try . Picking on
“y e s ” p e rs o n s , o r p e rs o n s w h o m ig h t b e s u s p e c te d to be so, a s
in te r m s o f A rticle 7 .6 of th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t, is a n o th e r
m a tte r , a n d t h a t is w h y co n fo rm in g to th e law . a s laid dow n by
th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e re g u la tio n s fram ed
th e r e u n d e r is o f p a r a m o u n t im p o rta n c e . As for fu n d in g , th a t
w o u ld n o d o u b t d e p e n d o n th e n a tu r e of th e p ro ject to be
u n d e r ta k e n a n d th e id e n tific a tio n o f s o u rc e s of a s s is ta n c e
a p p ro p r ia te for th e c h o s e n level o f o p e ra tio n . Q u ite different
c o n s id e ra tio n s will a p p ly if th e d e c is io n a fte r d u e in v estig a tio n
a n d d e b a te will b e to p ro d u c e a q u a n tity of single s u p e r
p h o s p h a te for lo cal u s e r a th e r t h a n p ro d u c in g D ia m m o n iu m
p h o s p h a te for e x p o rt.

If t h e g e n u i n e i n t e n t i o n w a s , a s c la im e d b y th e
r e s p o n d e n ts , to co m p ly w ith th e re q u ire m e n ts of th e law , it
w a s , in m y view , u n n e c e s s a r y to re fe r in th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t to a s tu d y re la tin g to e n v iro n m e n ta l m a tte rs a s a
p a r t o f its fea sib ility re p o rt. T h e law is c le a rly laid dow n in
th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e re g u la tio n s fram ed
th e r e u n d e r . W h a t w a s b e in g a tte m p te d by th e p ro p o sed
a g re e m e n t w a s to s u b s titu te a p r o c e d u re for t h a t laid dow n by
th e law . It w a s a s s u m e d t h a t b y a c o n tr a c tu a l a rra n g e m e n t
b e tw e e n th e e x e cu tiv e b r a n c h of th e g o v e rn m e n t a n d th e
C o m p a n y , th e la w s o f th e c o u n tr y c o u ld be avoided. T h a t is a n
o b v io u sly e rr o n e o u s a s s u m p tio n , for n o o rg a n of G o v ern m en t,
n o p e rs o n w h o m so e v er, is a b o v e th e law .

In h is le tte r to M r. S a r a th F e r n a n d o d a te d M arch 3, 1998

(P7), M r. T h ila n W ijesinghe, th e D ir e c to r/C h a irm a n of th e 2"'1
r e s p o n d e n t, w h o w a s a ls o a m e m b e r o f th e C o m m itte e
a p p o in te d b y th e P re s id e n t in 1 9 9 7 to c o n d u c t th e final ro u n d
 SC Bidankulama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 315
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.J ________

o f n e g o ti a ti o n s , s t a t e d t h a t “T h e M in e r a l I n v e s t m e n t
A g re e m e n t in itia lle d b y th e FM RP a n d th e G o v e rn m e n t
in c o rp o ra te s m o s t o f th e re c o m m e n d a tio n s o f ’ th e P r e s id e n t’s
C o m m itte e w h ic h re p o rte d o n th e 9 th o f M ay 1995. T h e r e p o rt
of th e C o m m itte e o f th e P re s id e n t o n th e 9 th o f M ay 1 9 9 5 w a s
n o t s u b m itte d to th is C o u rt. W e c a n o n ly go b y M r. W ije sin g h e ’s
a c c o u n t o f th e 1995 re c o m m e n d a tio n s . A nd g o in g b y th e
a c c o u n t th e re w a s fa ilu re to in c o rp o ra te -s o m e o f th e m o s t
im p o rta n t re c o m m e n d a tio n s o f th e C o m m itte e re p o rtin g o n
M ay 9 th 1995, e.g. th e n e e d for a c o m p re h e n s iv e geological
e v a lu a tio n a n d a d h e re n c e to th e rig o ro u s ELA p ro c e d u re s .
I a m n o t for a m o m e n t s u g g e s tin g t h a t e ith e r M r. W ijesin g h e
o r a n y m e m b e r o f th e fin a l n e g o tia tin g C o m m itte e a p p o in te d
by th e P re s id e n t a c te d e x c e p t in good fa ith . It m ig h t h a v e b e e n
s u p p o s e d t h a t so lo n g a s th e geological s u rv e y fitte d in to th e
e x p lo ra tio n p ro c e s s a n d th e e n v iro n m e n ta l s tu d ie s p ro p o se d
in th e d ra ft a g re e m e n t fo rm e d a p a r t of th e F e a sib ility S tu d y ,
all w a s w ell. It w a s n o t. L e a rn e d c o u n s e l fo r th e 5 th a n d
7 lh re s p o n d e n ts s a id t h a t th e fin a l r o u n d of n e g o tia tio n s a n d
w h o e x a m in e d th e p ro p o s a ls w e re “th e m o s t re s p o n s ib le a n d
h ig h e s t r a n k in g o fficers o f th e c o u n tr y .” I a c c e p t le a rn e d
c o u n s e l’s e s tim a tio n w ith o u t a n y h e s it a ti o n , b u t I a m
c o n s tr a in e d in th e w o rd s of H o ra c e to say , Indigrtor qu a n d o q u e
bon u s d o rm ita t H om erus - B u t if H o m er, u s u a lly good, n o d s for
a m o m e n t, I t h in k it a s h a m e .

In its “G u id e for Im p le m e n tin g th e ELA P ro c e s s , No. 1 of

1 9 9 8 (P.20), is s u e d b y th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity ,
it is s ta te d a s follows: “T h e p u r p o s e s o f e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t
a s s e s s m e n t (ELA) a r e to e n s u r e t h a t d e v e lo p m e n ta l o p tio n s
u n d e r c o n s id e r a tio n a re e n v iro n m e n ta lly s o u n d a n d
s u s t a i n a b l e a n d t h a t e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n s e q u e n c e s a r e
rec o g n ize d a n d ta k e n in to a c c o u n t e a rly in p ro je c t d e sig n . ELAs
a r e i n te n d e d to f o s te r s o u n d d e c is io n m a k in g , n o t to
g e n e ra te p a p e rw o rk . T h e ELA p ro c e s s s h o u ld a ls o h e lp p u b lic
officials m a k e d e c is io n s t h a t a re b a s e d o n u n d e r s ta n d in g
e n v iro n m e n ta l c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d ta k e a c tio n s t h a t p ro te c t,
re s to re a n d e n h a n c e th e e n v iro n m e n t.”
316 Sri Lanka Law Reports 1200013 Sri LR,

T h e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t p la in ly s e e k s to circum vent/^
th e p ro v isio n s of th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th ey n
re g u la tio n s fra m e d th e r e u n d e r . T h e re is n o w ay u n d e r th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t to e n s u r e a c o n s id e ra tio n o f d e v e lo p m en t
o p tio n s t h a t w ere e n v iro n m e n ta lly s o u n d a n d s u s ta in a b le a t
a n e a rly s ta g e in fa irn e s s b o th to th e p ro je c t p ro p o n e n t a n d th e
p u b lic . M oreover, th e s a fe g u a rd s e n s u re d by th e N ational
E n v iro n m e n ta l A ct a n d th e re g u la tio n s fra m e d th e r e u n d e r
w ith re g a rd to p u b lic ity h a v e b e e n v irtu a lly n eg ated , by t h e
p ro v isio n in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t r e g a rd in g c o n fid e n tia lity /\\f
I w o u ld r e ite r a te w h a t w a s s a id by th is C o u rt in (Junarafne v.
H om agam a P ra d e sh iy a S abh a, (1998) n a m e ly , t h a t pu b licity ,
t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d f a ir n e s s a r e e s s e n tia l if th e g o a l of
s u s ta in a b le d e v e lo p m e n t is to b e achieved.

A ccess to in fo rm a tio n o n e n v iro n m e n ta l is s u e s is of

p a r a m o u n t im p o rta n c e . T h e p ro v isio n o f p u b lic a c c e s s to
e n v iro n m e n ta l in fo rm a tio n h a s , for in s ta n c e , b e e n a d e c la re d
a im of th e E u r o p e a n C o m m is s io n ’s E n v iro n m e n ta l policy for a
n u m b e r of y e a rs . P rin c ip le 10 of th e Rio D e c la ra tio n c a lls for
b e tte r c itiz e n p a rtic ip a tio n in e n v iro n m e n ta l d e c isio n -m a k in g
a n d rig h ts of a c c e s s to e n v iro n m e n ta l in fo rm a tio n , for th e y c a n
h e lp to e n s u r e g r e a te r c o m p lia n c e by S ta te s of in te rn a tio n a l
e n v iro n m e n ta l s ta n d a r d s th ro u g h th e a c c o u n ta b ility of th e ir
g o v e rn m e n ts . P rin c ip le 10 s ta te s a s follows: “E n v iro n m e n ta l
is s u e s a re b e s t h a n d le d w ith th e p a rtic ip a tio n of all c o n c e rn e d
c itiz e n s, a t th e re le v a n t level. At th e n a tio n a l level, e a c h
in d iv id u a l s h a ll h a v e a p p r o p r ia te a c c e s s to in fo rm a tio n
c o n c e rn in g th e e n v iro n m e n t t h a t is h e ld by p u b lic a u th o ritie s ,
a n d th e o p p o r tu n i ty to p a r t i c i p a te in d e c is io n -m a k in g
p r o c e s s e s . S t a te s s h a ll f a c ilita te a n d e n c o u ra g e p u b lic
a w a r e n e s s a n d p a rtic ip a tio n b y m a k in g in fo rm a tio n ' w idely
a v a ilab le . E ffective a c c e s s to ju d ic ia l a n d a d m in is tra tiv e
p r o c e e d in g s , i n c l u d in g r e d r e s s a n d re m e d y , s h a ll b e
p ro v id e d .”

In th e m a tte r b efo re th is C o u rt, th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t

m a k e s n o m e n tio n of a n e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t a s s e s s m e n t in
 SC Bulankulama and Others v. Secretary, Ministry o f Industrial 317
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

te rm s o f th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l Act. T h e r e s p o n d e n ts

s ta te d t h a t u n d e r its u n d e r ta k in g in th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t
to com ply w ith th e a p p lic a b le law s, it w o u ld h a v e s u b m itte d a n
e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t a s s e s s m e n t, in d u e c o u rs e , if it h a d
b e e n re q u ire d to do so. In fac t, le a rn e d c o u n s e l fo r th e 5 th a n d
7th r e s p o n d e n ts gave a n u n d e rta k in g t h a t it w o u ld p ro v id e
s u c h a n a s s e s s m e n t. H ow ever, th e law , for good r e a s o n s , a s I
h a v e e n d e a v o u r e d to e x p la in , r e q u i r e s t h e p r e s c r ib e d
p ro c e d u re s to b e follow ed. T h e tim e s p re s c rib e d a r e .vital.
P roject p ro p o n e n ts c a n n o t d e c id e w h e n , if ev er th e y will
com ply w ith th e law . T h e re a re m a n y th in g s t h a t h a v e to b e
d o n e a t th e very e a rlie s t o f s ta g e s for v ery good re a s o n s . T h e re
is a lso a p re s c rib e d tim e if a n d w h e n a n e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t
a s s e s s m e n t h a s to b e d o n e . T h e p a r tie s to th e p ro p o se d
a g r e e m e n t a t t e m p t e d to s u b s t i t u t e a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y
p r o c e d u r e fo r th e p r o p o s e d p ro je c t. S u c h a p r o c e d u r e
c o n tra v e n e d th e p ro v isio n s o f th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l Act,
a n d th e re g u la tio n s m a d e t h e r e u n d e r a n d th e g u id e lin e s
p re s c rib e d b y th e N a tio n a l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity . T h e reb y ,
rein fo rc e d b y th e c o n fid e n tia lity p ro v isio n s o f th e p ro p o se d
a g re e m e n t, th e p ro p o s e d a g re e m e n t effectively e x c lu d e d
p u b lic a w a r e n e s s a n d p a rtic ip a tio n , a s c o n te m p la te d b y o u r
le g is la tu re a s w ell a s b y P rin c ip le 1O of th e Rio D e c la ra tio n . T he
p r o p o s e d a g re e m e n t ig n o re s th e C e n tr a l E n v iro n m e n ta l
A u th o rity a s th e p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n cy , a lth o u g h it w a s
a d m itte d b y th e p e titio n e rs a n d th e r e s p o n d e n ts t h a t th e
C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity in th is m a tte r w a s th e p ro je c t
a p p ro v in g a g e n cy , a n d s u b s titu te s in its p la c e th e S e c re ta ry to
th e M in iste r to w h o m th e s u b je c t o f m in e r a ls a n d m in e s is
a s s ig n e d for th e p u r p o s e o f a p p ro v in g th e e n v iro n m e n ta l s tu d y
c o n te m p la te d b y th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t. S u c h S e c re ta ry is
n o t a p ro je c t a p p ro v in g a g e n c y in te r m s o f th e N a tio n a l
E n v iro n m e n ta l Act: N or is h e o r s h e th e re fo re a “n a tio n a l
a u th o r ity ” w ith in th e m e a n in g of P rin c ip le 17 o f th e Rio
D e c la ra tio n . A ‘n a tio n a l a u th o r ity ’ is a n a u th o r ity reco g n ized
b y th e law o f a c o n c e rn e d S ta te . In a n y e v e n t, h a v in g re g a rd to
th e u n d e r ta k in g g iv en in A rticle 2 7 .7 (b) t h a t “T h e G o v e rn m e n t
s h a ll r e n d e r all re a s o n a b le a s s is ta n c e to th e C o m p a n y to
318 Sri Lanka Law Reports 120001 3 Sri L.R.

o b ta in all a p p ro v a ls, c o n s e n ts , g r a n ts , lic e n ce s a n d o th e r

c o n c e s s io n s a s m a y b e re a s o n a b ly b e re q u ire d from any
G o v e rn m e n t A u th o rity ", w h a t co m fo rt m ay th e p e titio n e rs
d eriv e? T h ey a re , in view , e n title d to b e a p p re h e n s iv e th a t even
if th e r e w a s a n e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t a s s e s s m e n t s u b m itte d
to th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity , s u c h a u th o rity m ay
n o t h a v e b e e n a b le to a c t im p a rtia lly a n d in d e p e n d e n tly . Of
w h a t u s e a re b ia s e d d e c is io n s o r d e c is io n s, re a s o n a b ly
s u s p e c te d to h a v e b e e n m a d e u n d e r p r e s s u r e ? F u rth e r,
a lth o u g h th e law of S ri L a n k a p ro v id e s for th e ju d ic ia l review
of th e a c ts of a d m in is tra tiv e a u th o r itie s , a n d P rin cip le 10 of
th e Rio D e c la ra tio n c a lls for effective a c c e s s to ju d ic ia l a n d
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e e d in g s , t h e p r o p o s e d a g r e e m e n t
s u b s ti t u t e ^ a r b i t r a t i o n ; for s u c h p ro c e e d ings, in w h ic h ._ of
CdtirseTTHe p u b lic Have no'YoleTy/| ~~

F o r th e r e a s o n s given, in m y view , th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t
s e e k s to c irc u m v e n t th e law a n d in its im p le m e n ta tio n is
b ia s e d in fa v o u r o f th e C o m p a n y a s a g a in s t th e m e m b e rs of th e
p u b lic , in c lu d in g th e p e titio n e rs . I a m th e re fo re of th e view th a t
th e p e titio n e rs a re e n title d to c la im t h a t th e re is a n im m in e n t
in frin g e m e n t of th e ir fu n d a m e n ta l rig h ts u n d e r A rticle 12(1) of
th e C o n s titu tio n .

OVERALL ECONOMIC BENEFITS

T h e r e s p o n d e n ts s u b m itte d t h a t th e p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t
if im p le m e n te d w o u ld b e h ig h ly b e n e ficia l to Sri L a n k a a n d
t h a t “w h e n o n e b a la n c e s th e p u r p o rte d c o m p la in ts a s a re
c o n ta in e d in th e p e titio n a g a in s t th e overall b e n e fit t h a t w ould
a c c r u e to S ri L a n k a , th e p e titio n e r s ’ a p p lic a tio n c a n n o t
s u c c e e d in la w .”

T h e D irector- o f th e 5 th r e s p o n d e n t, Mr. G a rry L. Pigg. a n d

th e D ire c to r o f th e 7 th r e s p o n d e n t, Mr. U.I. De S. B o ra le ssa ,
s ta te in th e ir a ffid a v its t h a t th e p ro p o s e d p ro je c t w ould r e s u lt
in e c o n o m ic b e n e fits to S ri L a n k a w h ic h th e y specify. T he
r e p o r t of th e C o m m itte e a p p o in te d b y th e P re s id e n t (P.4) lists
n u m e r o u s fin a n c ia l b e n e fits .
 SC Bidankulama and Others u. Secretary. Ministry of Industrial 319
Development and Others (Amerasinghe, J.)________________

L e a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e p e titio n e rs , how ever, s u b m itte d

t h a t t h e E p p a w e la p r o je c t g o v e rn e d b y t h e p r o p o s e d
a g re e m e n t will n o t o n ly b e a n e n v iro n m e n ta l d is a s te r b u t a n
econ om ic d is a s te r a s well. T h e y relied o n th e a n a ly s is o f th e
social a n d econo m ic c o n s id e ra tio n s by Prof. V. K. S a m a ra n a y a k e
(P. 10)(a); th e c o m m e n ts o f Prof. T is sa V ita r a n a (P.9); th e
c o m m e n ts o f Prof. O.A. Ille p e ru m a (P. 11); th e r e p o r t o f th e
N a tio n a l A c a d e m y o f S c ie n c e s (P. 10); th e r e p o rt o f th e N a tio n a l
S c ien c e F o u n d a tio n (P.12); a n d th e fin a n c ia l a n a ly s is b y
P re m ila C a n a g a r a tn a (P.17).

A s tu d y o f th e m a teria l s u b m itte d b y th e p e titio n e rs s h o w s

t h a t th e q u e s tio n o f b e n e fits is a h ig h ly c o n tro v e rs ia l m a tte r ,
b u t o n e t h a t m u s t b e g o n e in to , fo r o u r d e m o c ra tic re p u b lic
s e ts g r e a t s to re b y th e d isc o v e ry o f t r u t h in m a tte r s of p u b lic
im p o rta n c e in th e m a r k e t p lac e o f id e a s b y v ig o ro u s a n d
u n in h ib ite d p u b lic d e b a te . In th e d e b a te , p e r h a p s , w e n e e d to
c o n s id e r w h e th e r in c o m e a n d e c o n o m ic g ro w th o n w h ic h
th e r e s p o n d e n ts lay g r e a t e m p h a s is , a re th e so le c rite ria for
m e a s u r in g h u m a n w e lfa re . D av id K o rte n , th e F o u n d e r
P re s id e n t o f th e P e o p le -C e n tre d D e v e lo p m e n t F o ru m , o n c e
ob serv ed :

“T h e c a p ita lis t e c o n o m y ” [as d is tin g u is h e d fro m A d am

S m ith ’s c o n c e p t o f a m a r k e t econom y] “h a s a p o te n tia lly fa ta l
ig n o ra n c e of tw o s u b je c ts . O n e is th e n a tu r e o f m o n ey . T h e
o th e r is th e n a tu r e of life. T h is ig n o ra n c e le a d s u s to tra d e aw ay
life for m o n ey , w h ic h is a b a d b a rg a in in d e e d . T h e re a l n a tu r e
of m o n e y is o b s c u re d b y th e v o c a b u la ry o f fin a n c e , w h ic h is
d o u b le s p e a k . . . W e u s e th e te r m s “m oney", “c a p ita l" , “a s s e t s ”
a n d “w e a lth ” in te rc h a n g e a b ly - lea v in g n o sim p le m e a n s to
d iffe re n tia te m o n e y fro m re a l w e a lth . M oney is a n u m b e r . R eal
w e a lth is food, fertile la n d , b u ild in g s o r o th e r th in g s th a t
s u s ta in u s . L a c k in g la n g u a g e to se e th is d iffe re n c e, w e a c c e p t
th e s p e c u l a t o r ’s c la im to “c r e a t e w e a l t h ”, w h e n th e y
e x p ro p ria te it . . . S q u a n d e rin g re a l w e a lth in th e p u r s u i t of
n u m b e r s is ig n o ra n c e o f th e w o rs t k in d . T h e p o te n tia lly fa ta l
k in d .”
320 Sri Lanka Law Reports 12000] 3 Sri LR.

It is u n n e c e s s a ry for th e p u rp o s e s of th e ta s k in h a n d to
e n te r in to th e m a tte r of th e alleged ben eficial n a tu r e of th e
p ro p o se d a g re e m e n t: T h e p e titio n e rs c a se is t h a t th e re is
a n im m in e n t in fr in g e m e n t o f th e ir f u n d a m e n ta l rig h ts
g u a ra n te e d by A rticles 12(1), 14(l)(g) a n d 14(l)(h). I h av e
s ta te d m y r e a s o n s fo r u p h o ld in g th e ir c o m p la in ts . T he
“b a la n c in g ” e x e rc ise re fe rre d to b y le a rn e d c o u n s e l h a s b e e n
a lre a d y d o n e for u s a n d th e C o n s titu tio n s e ts o u t th e
c ir c u m s ta n c e s w h e n a n y d e ro g a tio n s a n d re s tric tio n s a re
p e rm issib le . A rticle 15(7) o f th e fu n d a m e n ta l rig h ts d e c la re d
a n d reco g n ized b y A rticles 12 a n d 14 a re “s u b je c t to s u c h
re s tric tio n s a s m a y b e p re s c rib e d by law ”, a m o n g o th e r th in g s,
for “m e e tin g th e j u s t re q u ir e m e n ts of th e g e n e ra l w elfare of a
d e m o c ra tic so c ie ty .” In th e lig h t of th e a v a ilab le ev idence, 1 am
n o t co n v in c e d t h a t th e p ro p o se d p ro je c t is n e c e s s a ry to m ee t
s u c h re q u ire m e n ts . In a n y e v e n t, th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s le a d in g to
th e im m in e n t in frin g e m e n ts h a v e n o t b e e n , “p re s c rib e d by
law ” b u t a ris e o u t of a m e re p ro p o se d c o n tra c t, a n d th ere fo re
do n o t d e se rv e to b e ev e n c o n s id e re d a s p e rm issib le .

ORDER

F o r th e r e a s o n s s e t o u t in m y ju d g m e n t, I d e c la re t h a t
a n im m in e n t in frin g e m e n t o f th e f u n d a m e n ta l rig h ts of th e
p e titio n e rs g u a ra n te e d b y A rticles 12(1), 14(l)(g) a n d 14(l)(h)
h a s b e e n e s ta b lis h e d .

T h e re is n o a s s u r a n c e o f infallibility in w h a t m a y b e done;
b u t in th e n a tio n a l in te r e s t, every effort o u g h t to b e m a d e to
m in im ize g u e s s w o rk a n d re d u c e m a rg in s of e rro r. H aving
re g a rd to th e e v id e n c e a d d u c e d a n d th e s u b m is s io n s of
le a rn e d c o u n s e l for th e p e titio n e rs a n d r e s p o n d e n ts , in te rm s
o f A rticle 126(4) o f th e C o n s titu tio n , I d ire c t th e re s p o n d e n ts
to d e s is t fro m e n te rin g in to a n y c o n tr a c t re la tin g to th e
E p p a w e la p h o s p h a te d e p o s it u p to th e tim e,

(1) a c o m p re h e n s iv e e x p lo ra tio n a n d s tu d y re la tin g to th e (a)

lo c a tio n s , (b) q u a n tity , m o v in g in fe rre d re s e rv e s in to th e
 SC Bulankidama and Others v. Secretary. Ministry o f Industrial 321
Development and Others (Amerasinghe. J.)________________

p ro v e n category, a n d (c) q u a lity o f a p a tite a n d o th e r

p h o s p h a te m in e ra ls in S ri L a n k a is m a d e by th e th ir d
r e s p o n d e n t, th e G eological S u rv e y a n d M in es B u r e a u , in
c o n s u lta tio n w ith T h e N a tio n a l A cad em y o f S c ie n c e s o f S ri
L a n k a a n d th e N a tio n a l S c ie n c e F o u n d a tio n , a n d th e
r e s u lts o f s u c h e x p lo ra tio n a n d s tu d y a re p u b lis h e d ; a n d

(2) a n y p ro je c t p r o p o n e n t w h o m so e v e r o b ta in s th e a p p ro v a l
o f th e C e n tra l E n v iro n m e n ta l A u th o rity a c c o rd in g to law ,
in c lu d in g th e d e c isio n s o f th e s u p e r io r C o u rts o f re c o rd of
S ri L a n k a .

I m a k e f u r th e r o r d e r t h a t (1) S ta te s h a ll p a y e a c h o f
th e p e titio n e rs a s u m o f Rs. 2 5 ,0 0 0 a s c o s ts ; (2) th e fifth
r e s p o n d e n t s h a ll p a y e a c h o f th e p e titio n e rs a s u m of 1 2 ,5 0 0
a s c o s ts ; (3) th e s e v e n th r e s p o n d e n t s h a ll p a y e a c h o f th e
p e titio n e rs Rs. 1 2 ,5 0 0 a s c o s ts .

WADUGODAPITIYA, J . I a g re e .
GUNASEKERA, J . - I ag ree.

R e lie f G ranted.