• SAELR Vol. 1 presents four landmark judgments from Sri Lanka and one significant judgement from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

The first volume of the South Asian Environmental Law Report (SAELR) was unveiled aiming at improving legal literature relating to environmental law and justice in the region. 

The publishing of SAELR is a collaborative product of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy (CELP) of the University of Colombo. This publication is anticipated to enhance general awareness among the global legal audience about the rich environmental jurisprudence of South Asia and to showcase a few selected landmark cases from South Asia. 

SAELR Vol. 1 presents four landmark judgments from Sri Lanka and one significant judgement from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. It is a unique initiative from other collections of legal reports because each landmark case includes a review by a legal expert analyzing case facts, the judgement and necessary future developments. This collection of reports will be a valuable reference for the judges, lawyers, academics, law students, and researchers and will provide remarkable guidance to activists, journalists, and every other person keen on pursuing the dynamic evolution of International Environmental Law.

The Launching ceremony of the Law report was held last Saturday (30) at Waters Edge hotel with the participation of many scholars and experts in the field of law in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC graced the occasion as the chief guest of the event.  Vice-Chancellor of Colombo University Prof. Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne, Dr Kokila Konasinghe, Dr Jagath Gunawardene, senior adviser to CEJ Hemantha Withanage and Senior Lawyer Ravindranath Dabare were present at the event.