Cardamom removed from Knuckles forest reserve

Disna MUDALIGE

The cardamom cultivation which was a major threat to the Knuckles forest reserve has been removed to a greater extent and forest lands belonging to the Lands Reforms Commission will be vested with the Forest Conservation Department (FCD), said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Addressing a press conference at the ministry Wednesday, the minister said that permission is not given to new cardomom cultivation in these lands. He said permission is given only to reap the harvest of existing cultivations and once the harvest is reaped the re- cultivation is not permitted.

He said that there are 321 pieces of land to be taken over by the FCD, mainly in Kandy and Mathale districts and the move has been geared up since it is the most effective way to prevent illegal activities in these lands. He said that the aim of the FCD and the ministry is to terminate human activities on the hill top of the Knuckles forest reserve.

CEA Chairman Charitha Herath, Forest Conservator General H M Hitisekera and senior officials of the ministry and affiliated institutions also participated.