Supreme Court Rules Colombo and Kolonnawa Councils Violated Rights in Meethotamulla Waste Dumping Case

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Colombo Municipal Council and the Kolonnawa Urban Council violated the fundamental rights of residents by illegally dumping waste at the Meethotamulla "Pothuvil Kumbura" site. This decision, delivered on March 31, came in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by residents, including lawyer Nuwan Bopage. A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Yasantha Kodagoda and Priyantha Fernando, heard the case. The illegal dumping occurred over many years, preceding the tragic 2017 collapse of the garbage mound that resulted in multiple fatalities.