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Wilpattu aloe vera field causes concern

29 Sep 2021

  • Wildlife officials say may increase human-elephant conflict
  • Cabinet approves 66 acres of state land in A’pura District for pvt. co. 
BY Pamodi Waravita  Wildlife Conservation Department (DWC) officials have raised concerns regarding the potential for the incidence of the human-elephant conflict (HEC) owing to the implementation of an aloe vera cultivation project in the Nochchiyagama and Rajanganaya Divisional Secretariats (DSs) in the Anuradhapura District, bordering the Wilpattu National Park. Towards the end of August this year, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the lease of approximately 66 acres of state land to Aura Lanka Herbals (Pvt.) Ltd. for the implementation of an aloe vera cultivation project in the Nochchiyagama and Rajanganaya Divisional Secretariats, bordering the Wilpattu National Park. However, the Cabinet decision does not specify as to where exactly in the two said Divisional Secretariats is the said 66 acres of state land located. However, officials from the DWC, speaking to The Morning, sounded the alarm about the impact of this proposed project on this world famous National Park, as it could especially impact the elephant population that roams free in the area, and could ultimately spark the human-elephant conflict in the neighbouring villages. Both Rajanganaya and Nochchiyagama, part of the Anuradhapura District, form part of the Southern border of the Wilpattu. The buffer zone, extending to one mile from the boundary of the park, falls under the jurisdiction of a number of institutions, including the Mahaweli Authority and the Forest Department. Additionally, the buffer zone is also home to privately-owned lands, mostly by members of the neighbouring communities, who often use the lands for chena cultivation (shifting, slash and burn cultivation) for four months of the year.

“Boundaries and buffer zones are regulated by certain provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended. Buffer zones don’t belong to the DWC, but DWC permission is required for the conduct of certain activities within the buffer zones. According to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance No.02 of 1937 as amended (FFPO), it is illegal to carry out any development activity, trade, or business within one mile from the boundaries of a National Park unless approval is granted by the DWC. Depending on the nature of the activity, DWC may require the applicant to submit an Initial Environmental Examination Report ( IEER) or an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) before granting approval. ( Section 9A)," said the Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited (EFL) which has been investigating the issue since 2019, when the project was initially proposed.

A Right to Information (RTI) request filed by the EFL reveals that the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has stated that it does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted for the aloe vera cultivation. However, the project proposal by Aura Lanka Herbals, as seen by The Morning, shows that the company also hopes to construct an indoor sports complex in the Rajanganaya area.

Considering the nature of the project, it is also required to carry out an IEER or EIAR in terms of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 (as amended).EFL has been monitoring the project since 2019 and according to the information obtained through the Right to Information Act, no such approvals have been obtained for the aloe vera project and DWC has already filed actions in the Courts.

“The Government can lease out state land for cultivation, following the proper procedure. However, there were many objections to this project in 2019. We are now confused as to how the Cabinet suddenly approved this project. Despite the pending court cases and illegal nature of the project, the Cabinet of Ministers in August decided to allocate 66 acres of state land for the project. EFL is of the view that although the management of state land is a duty vested with the Government that duty has to be carried out according to the laws of the country in a manner that ensures sustainable development,” said the EFL.

The official website of Aura Lanka Herbals notes that its Founder, Dr. Chandika Viranjith Thambugala is a Sri Lankan indigenous medical doctor. “Aura Lanka Herbals sources medicinal plant sections from many parts of the Island for processing extremely rare oil content according to ancient recipes. As these herbs are very rare, the company only sources these medicines from trusted agents islandwide. Dr. Thambugala too, personally continues to study herbs and medicinal plants found in many ancient prescriptions in order to promote them in modern times,” claims the website. “Many officials in the area are reluctant to speak out against any environmental harm done by the said company as its Founder plays the role of a benefactor to many villagers,” one Government official told The Morning. The Morning’s attempts to contact Dr. Thambugala regarding the matter proved futile. Moreover, the DWC has filed two legal cases regarding the matter.  

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