I met with Mr. Hemantha and Dr. Ravindranath on 17/06/2024. It was a very insightful conversation and I learnt a bit more of the history of the CEJ, as well as the Tsunami charity’s involvement, and received a brief overview of their ongoing cases. I also met their young lawyers, Ms. Samadi and Ms. Kanchana, who informed me briefly of the work they undertake and the hardships they face.

Ialso spoke personally with Mr. Sangeeth, the intern from the North of Sri Lanka. He spoke to me about how this has sparked a newfound interest in Environmental Justice. Mr. Hemantha told me that they are expecting to initiate more internships in the near future.

Three particularly interesting ongoing cases were brought up in coversation: an ongoing matter regarding converting mangrove/marsh lands into shrimp farms, allocating a large stretch of coastal land for ilmenite mining and a concern over the clearing of the forest cover surrounding the road that leads to Madu Church. Thankfully, the news came while I was there that the crisis about the Madu church was avoided as they have resolved now to just clear a 10 meter radius on either side of the road.

Mr. Hemantha and Dr. Ravindranath raised a few main points with regards to their legal activism and spreading awareness programs that I think are worthy of our attention.

1.The lack of a financial reserve to fund their legal activism in the long term. I believe that this can also help in the CEJ incentivizing more interns and young lawyers to join the cause, because Dr. Ravindranath pointed out that while there are many enquiries from young graduates, law college students and lawyers to be involved in the CEJ, once again, they’re met with the lack of funds to employ them as necessary.
2. ⁠An initiative to hold a public interest environmental law conference.
3. ⁠We also discussed a possible exchange program of sorts, where Sri Lankan lawyers living aborad come down to Sri Lanka to visit the CEJ and work with them for a few days/weeks, which would expose them to and make them more knowledgeable about the environmental legal activism in Sri Lanka and the work CEJ does.
4. ⁠Mr. Hemantha also briefly spoke about how the CEJ is hoping to expand their office premises so as to accommodate more lawyers, interns, staff etc.