Presidential intervention sought to prevent road construction in Sinharaja

By Ifham Nizam

The Centre for Environment and Nature Studies (CENS) has decided to seek President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s intervention to prevent the construction of a concrete road through the Sinharaja forest.

CENS Convener Dr Ravindra Kariyawasam told The Island that construction of the Kudawa access road to Sinharaja had destroyed the natural habitat of the Bulath Hapaya, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Sri Lanka and the ongoing construction has destroyed some plant species as well.

About 1.5km stretch of the 32km road has been completed so far. According to Kariyawasam, although the width of the road was to be eight feet, in places it is as wide as 20 feet. He said that over 60 percent of plant life in Sinharaja was endemic to Sri Lanka. Many plant species including Ma Wewal had been destroyed due to the construction, he added.

Dr Kariyawasam said that more nature friendly methods should have been followed when constructing roads in a forest area.

“We have raised this issue with government officials who give various excuses. Some have told us that they are renovating a road already in existence. If that is the case, why are they bulldozing the forest and why are they cutting off trees that existed from time immemorial.”