Fire destroys hilly parts of Sri Pada reserve

Ratnapura district special corr.

More than 1,000 hectares of forest in the Sri Pada reserve was destroyed in a recent fire which engulfed the hilly parts of the Walawe basin recently.

Balangoda forest in charge Range Ajith Jayasinghe said the fire which was extinguished in some of the major sections had spread to the hilly areas in Balangoda covered by Patana grass by yesterday morning.

However the main forest area is now out of danger.

Staff attached to the Ratnapura Disaster Management Centre too have assisted in dousing in response to a request made by the range office.