Uncontrolled tree felling should be stopped - Speaker

Disna Mudalige

The uncontrolled tree felling in the hill country to cultivate economic crops should be terminated with immediate effect to reverse a possible environment calamity, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said.

Participating at the National Environment Day ceremony at the Pinnawala National School as chief guest, he said that some are still continuing the tree felling as a habit in hilly areas such as Nuwara Eliya. He said this habit was a result of the large scale environment destruction brought about by the colonialists during the colonial period for commercial benefits.

The Speaker also noted that the President under the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dakma has given instructions to protect the forest cover above 5,000 feet from the sea level. He pointed out that the historic inscriptions of the country provide guidance for environmental conservation.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that reforestation in the hills has been initiated to combat global warming. “This is a fulfillment of our duty to the whole world as an environmental friendly nation. Global warming has become the hot topic in the global arena,” he said.

“It was reported that the temperature in most Arab countries as well as New Delhi, India reached 40 Celsius Degrees last week. Doubts have been raised in Dubai that the temperature will rise to 50 degrees in the next Summer. This might lead to vast number of environmental hazards. Therefore the whole world should make a unitary effort for a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions,” he said.

This year’s Environmental Day theme was Forest: Nature at Your Service. A tree plantation campaign was held in Namalgomuwa parallel to the national ceremony. An environment day walk also took place in Rambukkana. The Green Awards were also offered to 12 selected institutions and individuals under seven categories. Financial and material donations for schools and state institutions were also given. An environment exhibition was also conducted in three halls in the school.

Rural Affairs Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne, Deputy Environment Minister Abdul Cader, MP Kanaka Herath, Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath and the heads of institutions under the Environment Ministry also participated.