Wildlife Dept. ignores plot to grab Batticaloa bird sanctuary

by Prasanna Cooray

An attempt by a London-based organisation to grab an ecologically sensitive island in the Batticaloa lagoon, with the help of a Batticaloa-based government politician, has come to light. The purpose of this land grab is reportedly to erect a 120-foot- tall Lord Shiva statue.

The island, known as ‘Kokkuthivu’, in the Thiruppalugamam area, in the Porativu Pattu Vellavelly Divisional Secretary’s Division, is a bird san

ctuary, where a large number of migratory birds are found. Among them are eurasian spoonbill, grey heron, intermediate egret and little egret. Surrounded by a lush mangrove forest, the island is free of human habitation.

A resident of Batticaloa, said on condition of anonymity, “People are scared to oppose this land grab because of the violent past of some of the political elements involved in it. They are pressuring the Divisional and District Officials to release the island.”

Collecting funds for the erection of the statue has already begun in London.

The resident said, “The people in the area are very disturbed by the environmental destruction this project could cause.” The people of Thiruppalugamam village would be the worst affected, he added.

“There are many alternative sites in Batticaloa for erecting statues,” he said.

The Kokkuthivu island is among the 19 locations identified in the Porativu Pattu Vellavelly Division to be made wildlife sanctuaries. Appeals for this have been made repeatedly to the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Environment Ministry since September 2018. But no action has been taken.

The Director of Wildlife Conservation, Chandana Sooriyabandara when contacted for comment, said no decision had been taken as yet. Several aspects such as socio-economic factors affecting the people had to be taken into consideration before gazetting the area as a nature reserve. However, the particular island earmarked for the construction project is without any human settlements.