Court was told that the cultivation obstructed the habitat of elephants

The court ordered to close the farm run by HVA Farms limited in the forest after considering a petition by North Western Provincial Environmental Authority (EANWP).

HVA Farms limited cultivates banana and papaw in a 25-acre enclosure in the Thabbowa nature reserve.

The EA argued that the farm obstructed the habitat of elephants.

Director of EANWP, Saman Senanayake, told BBC Sandeshaya that application was to safeguard the wildlife as well as human lives.

"This might change the migration habits of elephants resulting in human and elephant deaths," he said.

The three bench panel chaired by Chief Justice Sarath Silva ordered the provincial authorities to consider offering another suitable land to HVA.