brand logo

Rambakan Oya Reservoir deforestation: Illegally logged timber discovered

31 Dec 2020

A stockpile of timber buried in the embankments of the Rambakan Oya Reservoir was recovered during the Mahaoya Police’s investigation into a deforestation racket occurring in the area. Environmental activists recently drew public attention to the act of 500 acres of land bordering the Rambakan Oya Reservoir being handed over to a private company called “Agro Chemical” for cultivation, which purportedly comprises land under the Mahaweli Authority.  “An on-site investigation was carried out on a tip-off received by the Police that a stockpile of felled and chopped timber had been buried there. We carried out the raid along with the Mahaoya Police and managed to recover seven logs and 40 pieces of planks buried, which were excavated,” noted Ampara Police Division Officer-in-Charge (OIC) SSP Jayantha Rathnayaka.  Further investigations are being carried out into the incident, and facts will be presented in Court to obtain the necessary arrest warrants against the perpetrators.    Under the supervision of SSP Rathnayaka and Mahaoya Police ASP Y.G.R.M. Rifard, Acting OIC Inspector Chandana and several other officers joined the raid.


More News..