Trinco Forest Conservation lands to be studied before being released for cultivation

By Ifham Nizam

Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday instructed to conduct a joint comprehensive survey of the lands under forest conservation in the Trincomalee district that can be used for cultivation.

This follows a recent discussion he had with the officials of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and the District Secretary of Trincomalee and all the Divisional Secretaries in the District via Zoom.

This discussion was held at the request of the public in some Divisional Secretariats of Trincomalee District.

Some Divisional Secretaries said more than three-fourths of the total land in their jurisdiction had been designated as forest conservation land and farmers were facing a big problem because they did not have land for cultivation.

The Minister said that according to the government’s decision to use all cultivable land for cultivation lands under the Department of Forestry could be released.

Minister instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Wildlife and Forestry, Mrs. Chandra Herath to take steps to conduct a joint investigation of the forest conservation lands that can be used for cultivation in the Trincomalee district.

Several persons including a representative from the area’s agriculture, wildlife, forestry departments and people from the area, will be nominated to the investigative committee.

The Trincomalee District Secretary is to be appointed its chair.

The Minister said that the government intended to use all lands that could be cultivated for food crops and the government had decided to take over all the uncultivated lands and transfer them to other persons for cultivation on a temporary basis.