The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on Friday (9) instructed the Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex Trust Fund Board to temporarily halt all construction activities at Ambuluwawa Mountain, including those related to the cable car project, until a decision is taken following a joint inspection tour.
The directive follows instructions from the Ministry of Environment to halt all construction at Ambuluwawa Mountain until a formal report is obtained from experts on the potential risks and hazardous conditions in the area.
This was conveyed in a letter sent by the ministry on Friday (9) to the Director General of Government Information for reference to the Cabinet.
The letter outlines several decisions taken regarding the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone, including a proposal to appoint an expert committee representing the Ministry of Environment to examine issues that have arisen in relation to the management and control of the area.
Under the ministry’s direction, officials of the CEA are expected to conduct a joint field inspection of the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone together with journalists and social activists who reported on the issue.
These decisions were communicated following a special discussion held at the Ministry of Environment on Thursday (8), chaired by Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi, with the participation of officials from the CEA. Several journalists and social activists who had reported on and monitored developments at Ambuluwawa also attended the meeting.
At the outset of the discussion, the Minister noted that under Emergency Regulations, the Divisional Secretary of Udapalatha, Gampola had the authority to intervene in matters relating to Ambuluwawa.
Although media reports had indicated that construction activities had been ordered to stop, participants at the meeting alleged that construction was continuing despite the directive.
In response, the Minister stated that written instructions had been issued to the CEA to halt construction. However, concerns were raised that construction had continued due to the failure to effectively enforce these instructions.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasised that environmental protection and public safety must take precedence. He also said that separate discussions would be held with the CEA regarding the alleged non-implementation of the directive to suspend construction.
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) conducted an inspection tour of Ambuluwawa on 19 December 2025, nearly two weeks after a landslide was reported in the area, to examine locations affected by slope failure and instability. According to Minister Patabendi, the NBRO has since declared the area a high-risk zone.
Discussions have also been initiated on bringing the administration of Ambuluwawa under State control, in light of serious concerns regarding the legal basis of land acquisition and construction activities on the mountain.
Ambuluwawa Mountain is currently administered under the Ambuluwawa Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne Religious Centre and Biodiversity Complex Trust Fund Act No.44 of 2009. The land for the project was vested in the trust fund through a deed of trust by the Chief Trustee.
Under Section 19 of the act, the Founder of Ambuluwawa is identified as D.M. Jayaratne. Section 16 further provides that upon the death of the Founder, succession to the position should pass to his son, followed by the eldest male descendant in the lineage.