Sri Lanka, Oct. 13 -- The Supreme Court has ordered that a Fundamental Rights petition filed seeking an order to prevent alleged illegal mineral mining on Mannar Island be called on February 10, 2026 for consideration.

The petition was filed by a group including Father Santiago Marcus, the Chairman of the Environmental Justice Center and Mannar Citizens' Committee along with a group.

The petition was called before a bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Sampath Abeykoon today (13).

The bench ordered that the petition be called on February 10, 2026 for confirmation of the facts.

The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, its Director General, the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resour...