RTI in Action: Hitthettiya West Village’s Battle Against Environmental Neglect and Abuse of Power

In Hitthettiya West Village, located in Kankanam Kubura within the Matara Divisional Secretariat and Matara Municipal Council area, a pressing health hazard emerged due to neglected land. The issue originated from an abandoned, waterlogged plot owned by an individual employed in the Sri Lankan State Security Sector. This land became a mosquito breeding site, drastically increasing the villagers’ risk of contracting dengue fever.

Despite ongoing complaints to various public authorities over a span of two years, the landowner,repeatedly ignored any resolution. In an effort to address this, the Matara Social Justice Cooperative called Samooha Moorthikaruwo initiated the search for solutions during their regular meetings. A significant contribution came from Geeta R (a pseudonym), a member of the cooperative, who submitted Right to Information (RTI) requests to both the Matara Municipal Council and the Matara Medical Office of Health(MoH). These RTI requests aimed to uncover details regarding the actions taken by public authorities in response to the three complaints filed by the community. These complaints were centered around the issues of waterlogging and mosquito breeding on the land, which had led to an increased incidence of dengue fever among the village residents.

These actions prompted investigations by the Matara Municipal and the Medical Officer of Health (MOH). The MOH issued a formal directive, mandating the clearance of stagnant water from the land within 14 days under specific regulations, with a caution of legal action for non-compliance.

Following this mandate, the landowner finally took corrective measures, employing labour to drain the land. This initiative not only remedied the immediate water stagnation issue but also highlighted the effectiveness of community mobilization and the strategic use of the RTI in resolving environmental challenges and abuse of power.

The narrative of Hitthettiya West Village, defined by the collaborative efforts of the Matara Social Justice Cooperative and the response from local authorities prompted by the Right to Information (RTI) Act, exemplifies a victory enabled by this critical legislation. This instance serves as a stellar example of the RTI’s capacity to catalyze community participation and encourage cooperation with relevant organizations. It highlights the substantial impact that such partnerships can achieve in resolving environmental and public health challenges, as well as in confronting the abuse of power at the grassroots.

Written by:
S.C. Ranasinghe
Project officer