Are some exploiting President’s instructions to rape Kalabalaluwewa reserve?

By Ifham Nizam

With strict instructions from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) yesterday called for a report on the destruction of the Kalabalaluwewa reserve.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has drawn the attention of the media regarding the bulldozing of the Kalabalaluwewa reserve and the felling of trees there that are of vital importance for both medicinal and economic purposes.

Amaraweera said that action would be taken to enforce the law on those who were responsible for the felling of trees in the Kalabalaluwewa reserve, which had a very important and historical background.

The Minister instructed the Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Anil Jasinghe to look into the matter. Action would be taken to call for a report from the CEA on the destruction of the Kalabalaluwewa reserve and the felling of valuable trees there, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

 The Minister also expressed concern about the Kahalle-Pallekele Sanctuary spread across both the North-Western and North-Central provinces.

Elephant experts have pointed out that wild jumbos in the Kahalle-Pallekele sanctuary visit the Kala-Wewa and Balalu-Wewa at various times of the year.

One path used by the wild elephants falls across the Dikediyawa Wewa, but a section of this area has been cleared using heavy machinery.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also said permission would be granted to farmers to engage in their traditional cultivation activities continuously without any disruption until related issues were resolved.

The President arrived at this decision focusing on issues fervently raised by the farmers who attended the 6th in the series of programmes titled “Discussion with the Village”.

While the President instructed Officials of Wildlife, Forest Conservation, Environment, Police and other institutions not to disturb traditional cultivation activities, he however stressed that no one was allowed to clear forests for cultivation purposes.