The Court of Appeal yesterday suspended a decision taken by the District Engineer, Colombo Municipal Council, to demolish buildings constructed on the pavements, in Colombo 15, within seven days from August 26, 2006. The court issued notice on the Colombo Municipal Commissioner and the District Engineer to be present in Court on September 22, 2006, in respect of a petition filed by eight persons, who had constructed trade stalls, along the pavements, in Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Colombo 15.

The petitioner had said that they had constructed stalls, with the permission of the Municipal Commissioner, in March 2006. The petitioners had made due payments to the Colombo Municipal Council. But on August 26, 2006, the District Engineer had notified the petitioners to vacate and/or demolish the stalls, since the space was needed to widen the road.

The petition said that no inquiry had been conducted by the CMC, prior to taking this decision, which they said was mala-fide and arbitrary. The petitioner requested the Court to quash the aforesaid decision. The Court suspended the operation of this decision fill September 22, 2006, the next date of calling of the case.