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Deforestation in elephant corridor: Palagala DS seeks recommendations

20 Jan 2021

By Pamodi Waravita   The Palagala Divisional Secretariat (DS) office yesterday (19) has requested reports containing recommendations from both the Department of Archaeology and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) regarding the alleged deforestation that had occurred near the Dikadhiyawa Tank situated in the elephant corridor between the Kala Wewa and the Balalu Wewa. Speaking to The Morning, Palagala Divisional Secretary S. Bandara said that they were informed about the alleged deforestation by the DWC, following which recommendation reports had been requested from the Department of Archaeology and the DWC. “The area near the Dikadhiyawa Tank was being used as an informal cemetery by a community living close to the area, and we heard that they were planning on constructing a permanent burial ground there. However, we did not give permission for this deforestation or the construction,” said Bandara. According to a DWC site officer, a one acre area of land near the Dikadhiyawa Tank was bulldozed earlier this month. Elephants use it as a water source en route to the Kala Wewa along the elephant corridor from the Balalu Wewa. “This forest area is extremely important as it ensures the protection of the Tank, which is a vital source of water for all wild animals including elephants,” said the officer. The elephants that use this corridor are inhabitants of the Kahalla-Pallekele Forest Reserve area. The DWC further elaborated that an investigation was conducted by them on 17 January and noted that the clearing of the land cannot take place without the permission of all relevant departments, including the DWC. The DWC also warned that the destruction of these elephant corridors could aggravate the human-elephant conflict, as these zones are used as peaceful hideouts by the elephants. Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka Convener Hemantha Jayasinghe, speaking to The Morning about the vitality of the elephant corridor at the Kahalla-Pallekele Forest Reserve, stated that the deforestation of a small area of land could eventually lead to large-scale deforestation. “State lands must be protected because it is not only the right of this generation, but also the right of future generations,” said Jayasinghe. Elephants at the Kahalla-Pallekele Forest Reserve, belonging to the North Western and North Central Provinces, migrate to both the Kala Wewa and the Balalu Wewa at different times of the year.


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