Water Hyacinth Ordinance

Ordi111111ce No. I of 1909. Short title. Interpretation. Prohibition of importation or possession of water hyacinth. Duty of landowners to destroy plant. Penalties. WATER HY A CI NTH [Cap. 277 CHAPTER 277 WATER HYACINTH AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE PROVISION TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION INTO, AND DISSEMINATION IN, SRI LANKA OF THE PLANT KNOWN AS THE WATER HYACINTH. 1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Water Hyacinth Ordinance. 2 . In this Ordinance the expression " the water hyacinth " means the plant botanically known as Eichhornia crassipes, and includes the seed and every part of the plant 3. It shall be unlawful for any person (a) to import the water hyacinth into Sri Lanka ; or • (b) to possess or keep the water hyacinth, or allow the same to grow in or on any place belonging to him or under his control or management. 4. Where the water hyacinth is growing in or on any place, it shall be the duty of the person to whom such place belongs, or who has the control or management thereof, forthwith to cause the same to be completely and effectually destroyed by fire. *5. Any person who (a) imports the water hyacinth into Sri Lanka ; or (b) possesses or keeps or allows the same to grow in any place belonging to him or under his control or management ; or ( c) fails forthwith to destroy in manner prescribed by section 4 any water [20th March, 1909.] hyacinth which may be found growing rn any such place as aforesaid, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable on conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees. 6. It shall be lawful for the principal Power of officer of customs at any port at which any customs . officers to water hyacmth may be landed to destroy the destroy plant same, and no person shall be entitled to on compensation for any water hyacinth so importation. destroyed. 7. (1) It shall be lawful for the Minister Power to by Order to declare that the provisions of extend certain this Ordinance- provisions to other noxious weeds or (a) prohibiting the importation of the plants. water hyacinth ; (b) imposing a penalty on persons importing the said plant ; ( c) empowering customs destroy the said importation, officers to plant on shall extend to any noxious weed or plant specified in the Order and to the seed or any part of such plant. (2) Upon such Order the above mentioned provisions of this Ordinance shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to such weed or plant. • Primary Court has exclusive jurisdiction under section 33 of the Judicature Act read with Gazette Extraordinary No. 43/4 of 1979.07.02. XI/215