COLOMBO — In a major legal reprieve for one of Sri Lanka’s most historic coastal dining establishments, the Court of Appeal issued an interim order staying the immediate demolition of the “Beach Wadiya” seafood restaurant in Wellawatte. The order restrains coastal authorities from enforcing a removal directive or altering the status quo of the property until September 21, 2026.
The judicial intervention follows a sudden directive issued on September 7, 2026, by the Director General of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management. Operating under Section 31(2) of the Coast Conservation Act, the department ordered the venue to dismantle and remove its structures within three days, alleging the building constituted an unauthorized structure in the coastal zone. Facing the threat of an immediate tear-down alongside a broader state clearance drive along the Bambalapitiya-to-Dehiwala stretch, the company, Beach Wadiya Incorporated, filed a writ petition seeking urgent court protection.
In the petition presented before the court, the establishment asserted that the demolition order is illegal, arbitrary, and unreasonable. Counsel argued that the establishment predates the threshold implementation date of the Coast Conservation Act of October 1, 1983. Founded in 1973 by the late Olwyn Weerasekera, the iconic family-run restaurant has operated continuously at No. 2 Station Avenue, Wellawatte, building an international reputation over five decades while hosting notable global figures including Britain’s Princess Anne, Sir Richard Branson, and international cricket icons.
The petition highlights that the business occupies the land under a valid, continuous lease agreement with the Sri Lanka Railway Department, which remains in force until November 2029. Furthermore, the petition documents a long history of compliance, including Colombo Municipal Council building approvals dating back to 1973, valid local trade licenses, and tax records. Notably, the filing reveals that as recently as August 2024, the Department of Coast Conservation itself issued a formal “No Objection” letter approving renovations to the premises.
The petitioner submitted that a formal statutory appeal was lodged with the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment on September 9, 2026. While the law mandates a 45-day window for the Ministry to review such an appeal, public announcements threatening imminent demolitions prompted the urgent application to prevent irreparable loss and the destruction of a long-standing family legacy.
After considering the legal submissions, the Court of Appeal granted the interim order to maintain the status quo, halting all enforcement actions while the matter remains under judicial review ahead of the next hearing prior to September 21.
Beach Wadiya is far more than a restaurant—it is a genuine Sri Lankan tourist landmark, an iconic part of Colombo’s coastal heritage and a treasured destination for visitors from around the world.