By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Controversy surrounds the approval for the construction of a resort in Yala with environmentalists claiming an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was not done before clearance was given. Environmentalists claimed that Cabinet approval had been granted to hand over an eight-acre plot of land in Palatupana near the Yala National Park for the resort on a 50-year lease, violating legal provisions. Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife, and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga sought Cabinet approval to release the land in Palatupana to a private company through a cabinet memorandum. In it, the Minister stated that the owner of the said resort had already constructed three tanks, a turtle conservation centre, and living quarters for the employees together with high-voltage electricity transmission lines and a security post at the entrance of the land.   Minister Amaratunga stated that the construction had been suspended until the lease agreement was signed. Furthermore, the said company was prepared to pay the initial down payment, one-year lease payment, and the expenses for the development of basic infrastructure facilities of the area. However, environmentalists alleged that the said company had started the construction even before signing the land lease agreement. Species Conservation Centre Chairman Pubudu Weeraratne told The Sunday Morning that the move to provide land in Yala began in 2012 and at that time, the same company made a bid under a different name. However, it has now made another attempt under a different name. Alleging that there were several such tourist resorts that had been built without EIAs, Weeraratne said that there was no government mechanism to monitor the mushrooming tourist hotels near national parks. “This issue is not limited only to Yala but also other national parks around the country. The Minister through cabinet papers and gazettes is currently giving land to different parties for tourist development activities on a large scale,” he alleged. Explaining further, Weeraratne noted that most of the owners of these resorts were blocking the pathways of animals as they were putting up electric fences around their land which is illegal and that was why the EIA was important. Explaining the legal aspects, environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardene said that if forest land of over one acre is identified for use for any other development activity other than a forest activity, special approval should be obtained under the National Environment Act by conducting an initial environmental examination or EIA. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Wildlife Conservation Department Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara said that conducting an EIA was compulsory prior to the commencement of any project in a sensitive environment. When asked about the Yala resort, he said even though Cabinet approval was obtained for the project, the company should conduct an EIA. Meanwhile, when contacted, Minister Amaratunga told The Sunday Morning that he had to check the documents before commenting on the relevant cabinet memorandum.