By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Court of Appeal has issued an interim order to release a collection of animals back to an animal lover, following their seizure by Wildlife Department officials for alleged violation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. 

• The Petitioner had been an active member of  the Young Zoologists Association of Sri Lanka  

The Court of Appeal Justice Mohammed Laffar further issued an interim order staying the proceeding in the Welisara Magistrate Court Case against the petitioner Shafeek Shuail until the conclusion of this writ application.  

The Petitioner states that he always had a deep affection and keen interest in animals and their welfare, which has been ingrained since his childhood. The Petitioner states that as such since his upbringing at Aluth Mawatha, Colombo 15, he raised and cared for several animals as pets which includes some of the birds, reptiles and other animals which were seized and taken into custody by officers of the Wildlife Department. The Petitioner stated that all the animals were purchased through pet shops.   

The Petitioner had been an active member of  Young Zoologist Association of Sri Lanka which is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary youth organization which strives to protect and conserve the environment through education.   

Faiszer Musthapha PC with Counsel Shaheeda Barrie, Naveen Maha Arachchige and Ilham Hassanali appeared for the Petitioner.