Sri Lanka, April 8 -- The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has filed a Writ Petition in the Court of Appeal seeking an order restraining the Marine Environment Protection Authority from granting permission to the newly built Araliya Unawatuna Beach Hotel, disposing sewage into the sea.

The CEJ and its Executive Director Director Hemantha Withanage filed this petition naming the Central Environmental Authority, Urban Development Authority, Director General of Wild Life, Chairman of Araliya Group W. Sirisena, Habaraduwa Divisional Secretary, Marine Environment Protection Authority and several others as respondents.

The Petitioners state that a massive hotel project which includes over 250 rooms covering an extent of 10 acres and 6.1...