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Deforestation allegations: Forest officers inspect Sinharaja today

17 Mar 2021

The Department of Forest Conservation (DFC) will be inspecting the Sinharaja Forest Reserve area today (17) amidst allegations of deforestation taking place in the elephant corridor within the reserve, The Morning learnt. Sources at the DFC told The Morning that an inspection at the reserve has been planned following allegations by various quarters during the course of the past week. The Morning reported in January that following development activities in the elephant corridor between Handapan Ella and Dellawwa Ella, district forest conservation officers had requested the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to declare the area as an environmentally sensitive area. However, speaking to The Morning yesterday (16), CEA Chairman Siripala Amarasinghe said the land in which the development was ongoing is a private land, despite being surrounded by the reserve. “We have heard that houses are being built by the owners of this land. If it was registered as a hotel, we would have definitely called for an environmental impact assessment (EIA),” noted Amarasinghe. Amarasinghe further said that he has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) due to various unfair allegations by media organisations, claiming that his “blessing had been granted for the deforestation of the reserve”. “The owners have deeds to the land, and as such, it is unfair to accuse me of supporting the development,” added Amarasinghe. The Sinharaja Rainforest, located in the Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces, covers an area of 18,900 acres and is home to over 50% of the country’s endemic species. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1988.


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