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WNPS wants Fauna and Flora Advisory Committee to be summoned

by Florence Wickramage

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) had adopted a resolution at the General Committee Meeting on November 6 stating that "in regard to the drive of wild elephants at Handapanagala and the lands adjacent to the sugarcane plantations at Pelawatte, as reported in the media, the Society wishes to point out that the drive violates sections 12, 13 and 14 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Act (FFPA) (Cap 469) in that the deaths of a tusker and baby elephants were reported in the media".

Further, the WNPS views with great dismay and concern the quarrying and blasting of a natural rock formation within the Yala National Park for a building construction as such actions violate the provisions of Section 6 (1) (c) (e) and (g) of the FFPA (Cap 469).

The Society has requested the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources to summon the Fauna & Flora Advisory Committee early to discuss these and related matters, in an attempt to prevent recurrences of a similar nature. While the necessity arises to establish whether or not these activities were sanctioned by relevant officers of the Departments concerned, due publicity should be given to the findings of all inquiries and to subsequent action taken, in order to preserve the credibility of the DWLC that would otherwise be eroded.

The WNPS is further requesting the Environment Ministry Secretary to summon the Advisory Committee following a period of inactivity suggests that they would prefer to be in a position of helping to adopt correct policies rather than be placed in a position where their only contribution would be to point out errors and bad practices after they have taken place.

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