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Green Movement of Sri Lanka expresses protest

by Florence Wickramage

Illegal activities currently taking place within the Yala National Park with political backing seriously contravenes the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Whilst holding the Environment and Natural Resources Minister and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) responsible for these actions, the Green Movement of Sri Lanka has expressed their strong protest at these actions.

In a release to the media Chief Organiser of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka Suranjan Kodituwakku and Project Manager Douglas Chandana Kumara has listed three major illegal activities presently conducted within the Yala National Park.

It has been alleged that a private company with the permission of the Tourism Board is in the process of constructing a Restaurant at Patalangala, under the pretext that this work is conducted by the DWLC. It is evident that the construction work is not carried out by the DWLC.

The Green Movement points out further that illegal sand mining is taking place in the Menik Ganga within the borders of the Yala National Park for the construction of the said restaurant. Already around 300 Tractors of sand had been collected and it is alleged that the services of a Park guide has been obtained in the transportation of the sand. This action disturbs the natural lifestyle of the wildlife in the park.

The provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance has been further contravened by the cutting down of large Palu trees within the national park for the reconstruction of the Buttuwa Bungalow. Around 20 numbers of these trees with a girth of about 3 feet is found in this particular place, the Green Movement said.

Several attempts made by the Daily News to contact Environment and Natural Resources Minister and the Director General of the DWLC to obtain their comments were unsuccessful.

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