Illegal timber felling near Kokilai lagoon

The northwestern side of the land along the Kokilai lagoon (Kukulawa) is being cleared to accommodate Internally Displaced persons but illegal timber felling and transport has been going on at the same time, the Green Movement of Sri Lanka said in a press release yesterday.

However, the Forest Department seized five lorries carrying illicit timber last Wednesday in a joint operation conducted by the Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee District officers.

The Green Movement also states that the development project on the border of the Kokilai Lagoon has been started without the approval of the Forest Conservation Department and request the Environment Minister to prevent the clearing of the valuable protected jungle in this area and to hold an inquiry into the destruction of valuable forest cover around the lagoon.