The Court of Appeal has fixed dates for consideration of petitions filed by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Center for Environmental Justice seeking a writ of restraining order against illegal constructions, sand mining and allotment of lands in the Muthurajawela Reserve Sanctuary. The petitions were taken up before a panel of Appeal Judges comprising Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola today (12). The bench directed that the petitions be called for consideration on the 26th. The Central Environmental Authority, the IGP, Wattala and Ja-Ela Divisional Secretaries have been named as respondents to the petitions. The petitioners, including the Cardinal, allege that illegal activities such as illegal constructions, sand mining and land allotment in the Muthurajawela Forest Reserve have caused severe damage to its ecosystem. Therefore, the petitioners have requested the court to issue a writ order to the respondents to take steps to prevent the occurrence of such illegal activities and to issue an order to the respondents to re-measure the Muthurajawela Conservation Zone and set new boundaries for it.