News
Hambantota fast to continue till elephant reserve is gazetted
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Farmers of Hambantota would continue with their fast until a gazette notification declaring the Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota was published, environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara said yesterday.
The farmers of Hambantota have been protesting for over 35 days, demanding the gazetting of the reserve, Chamikara said.
“A plan to create this reserve was prepared in 2010 and approval granted in 2011. However, powerful ministers of both the Rajapaksa and yahapalana governments prevented the implementation of the plan. There are behind a large number of soil and granite extraction sites in the area earmarked for the reserve. A powerful Minister in this government too is opposed to the proposed reserve.”
Chamikara added that there was no need for Cabinet approval for the declaration of a protected area. According to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the Minister of Environment could declare a protected area. “Given this, the government’s move is a clear diversionary strategy,” the senior environmentalist said.
Chamikara said that the government had not obtained Cabinet approval for expanding a road to Lankagama or parcelling out land in Kandakadu, Dahaiyagala and Somawathiya.
“Farmers know this and that’s why they will go on with their fast until the gazette is printed. 156 farmer organisations and a number of trade unions have joined the struggle of the Hambantota farmers. At a time when some claiming to be farmers are clearing forest land when the President visits villages, these people are trying to protect the forests and ecology,” Chamikara said.
The Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal by the Minister of Environment to declare a 23,746 hectare elephant reserve subsequent to obtaining the agreement of legal draughtsman for publishing the gazette.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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