2026-03-03 / Oral Questions: Death Sentence Appeals (Q.1630/2025), Environmental Complaint (Q.1864/2026), and Deferred Questions 2026-03-03
## Summary
The Minister of Environment responded to a complaint filed by Hon. Ajith P. Perera regarding a three-wheeler service station operating near a residential property in the Kalutara District. Following multiple field inspections conducted between October 2025 and January 2026, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) found that the original licence holder, Mr. G. Prasanna Jayasiri, had died, and the station was being operated by a hired worker under his widow, Mrs. Chamila Adhikari. The CEA issued a letter on 02.02.2026 directing Mrs. Adhikari to submit the original Environmental Protection Licence (No. WE–C01249(R4)) along with a death certificate and ownership documents to the CEA within 21 days. The Minister noted that further regulatory action will be determined after reviewing the documents expected in response to that letter, with an ongoing land dispute related to the premises also being heard before the Panadura Magistrate's Court under Case No. 2918.
(a) According to the said complaint, on 16.01.2026 a field inspection was carried out with the participation of both parties. The observations of the field inspection are as follows:
- At the time of the inspection, activities were being carried out at the three-wheeler service station.
- The complainant’s house is located in close proximity to this premises.
- In relation to this service station, this Authority has renewed the Environmental Protection Licence bearing No. WE–C01249(R4), dated 23.05.2025, valid from 07.05.2025 to 16.01.2027.
- It was revealed during the inspection that the industrial owner has passed away.
- As stated by the complainant party and by Mrs. Chamila Adhikari, the wife of the deceased industrial owner, a land case regarding the land on which this industry is situated is being heard with the complainant party before the Panadura Magistrate’s Court under Case No. 2918.
- According to Mrs. Chamila Adhikari, after her husband’s death, the three-wheeler service station is being operated by employing a worker.
According to the above observations, by letter dated 02.02.2026, Mrs. Chamila Adhikari, the wife of the late G. Prasanna Jayasiri, was informed to implement the following recommendations within 21 days. The letter has been placed in the Library.
Recommendations:
- Since the industrialist, Mr. G. Prasanna Jayasiri, has passed away, the original Environmental Protection Licence bearing No. WE–C01249(R4) dated 23.05.2025 issued to him by the Central Environmental Authority, together with a copy of the death certificate, should be submitted to the Central Environmental Authority.
- The documents relating to the present ownership of the service station should be submitted to the Central Environmental Authority.
(ii) Irrelevant.
(iii) The complaint submitted by Hon. Ajith P. Perera, Attorney-at-Law, was received by the Kalutara District Office on 11.09.2025 through the Complaints Coordination Unit of the Head Office. Accordingly, the complaint was inspected on 28.10.2025 by officers of the Kalutara District Office; at that time the three-wheeler service station was closed. The industry was inspected again on 26.11.2025; on that occasion the industry was in operation, but the complainant party was not at home. Thereafter, the complainant telephoned the office and, as he was not met, requested that another field inspection be carried out. In accordance with that request, a field inspection was carried out again on 16.01.2026 with the participation of both parties and, by letter dated 02.02.2026, the Central Environmental Authority informed Mrs. Chamila Adhikari to implement the above recommendations within 21 days.
(iv) See above chronology.
(v) Further action in respect of the complaint regarding this industry will be taken after considering the reports and documents expected to be submitted by the wife of the industrialist in response to the letter dated 02.02.2026 issued to her by the Central Environmental Authority.
(b) Irrelevant.