No forest land illegally vested - Minister Yapa

Disna Mudalige

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa yesterday said no forest land under the purview of the Environment Ministry has been illegitimately vested upon any government or private party.

The minister refuting certain media reports that the ministry had given over 65,000 acres of forest land to various institutions and multinational companies in 2011, said less than 100 acres under the purview of the ministry were released with the approval of the inter ministerial committee in 2011, adding that the majority of them were not forest land. He said: "About 70 to 75 acres were released to the Defence Ministry for purposes relating to national security, including ammunition storage and shooting practices. The rest were released for public activities such as the construction of irrigation and canal systems, community halls, community hydro power schemes, and roads. They were proceeded with legally with the approval of relevant authorities.

"The news reports are incorrect and totally misleading. No damage to the forest cover has been caused by releasing land less than 100 acres in extent.

"The ministry has not let any land under its purview to be misused" the minister concluded.