COLOMBO — After a 15-year long legal battle, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has put a stop to a controversial road construction project extending from Puttalam in the North West to Northern Mannar, technically running through Wilpattu National Park, the country’s oldest and largest protected area. Conservationists have lauded the ruling as a landmark victory — not just for Wilpattu, but for protected areas across Sri Lanka facing increasing threats from unregulated infrastructure development, including road construction. The project involved the upgrading of an existing rudimentary road, which links Puttalam district in North Western province with Mannar district in Northern province. Historically, this road existed in a basic form until 1983, when it was closed due to Sri Lanka’s civil war. During the violent conflict, the road served as a military supply and access route. After the war ended in 2009, the government proposed redeveloping the road for public use as it would shorten the distance from Puttalam to Mannar by 30-50 kilometers (18-30 miles). However, environmentalists swiftly warned against the reopening of the road, as it could fragment critical elephant and leopard habitats, violating the legal protections of the national park and opening the door to further encroachment and habitat loss. A herd of spotted dear (Axis axis ceylonensis) inside Wilpattu National Park. Image courtesy of Mevan Piyasena. Recognizing the environmental sensitivity that should not be disturbed, several organizations filed complaints beginning in 2010, triggering a long and complex legal battle. In a major relief to conservationists, the island’s attorney general…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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