The Court of Appeal today directed the Department of Wildlife Conservation to evict encroachers and initiate legal action against individuals occupying land inside the Wilpattu National Park.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices S.U.B. Karalliyadde and Frank Goonawardena issued the order after delivering judgment on a writ petition filed by the Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited (EFL). The petition sought urgent intervention to halt alleged illegal activities in and around the Pallekandal Church area in Block V of the park.
This ruling adds to a series of landmark judicial interventions aimed at safeguarding Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest national park. In May 2025, the Supreme Court concluded a 15-year legal battle by prohibiting the upgrading of the Puttalam–Mannar road through Wilpattu, formally banning public traffic along the route. Conservationists hailed the verdict as a historic win for environmental protection, noting the road would have fragmented key elephant and leopard habitats.
The judiciary has also addressed long-standing issues of illegal deforestation and resettlement in the Wilpattu Forest Complex. In November 2020, the Court of Appeal declared resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) within reserved forest land unlawful and ordered a reforestation program, with former minister Rishad Badiuddeen directed to bear its full cost under the “Polluter Pays Principle.”
Environmental groups have also raised concerns over unregulated religious encroachment, including the expansion of the Pallekandal Church, which has reportedly led to habitat destruction and large-scale littering during annual festivals.
Conservationists stress that continued encroachment threatens the park’s unique ecosystems, including its internationally recognized willus (natural water basins), while exacerbating habitat loss for endangered species such as the Sri Lankan leopard and wild elephants.
The latest court order is expected to strengthen enforcement mechanisms against illegal activities and reaffirm the judiciary’s role in protecting Wilpattu’s ecological integrity.
