Over 1,000 acres of Haldummulla wildlife reserve cleared

CEB-led project causes massive environmental destruction:

By Saman Indrajith

Badulla District NPP MP Dinindu Saman on Monday (10) alleged in Parliament that a project carried out in the Bogahapelessa Forest Reserve, located in the Mahalanda Grama Niladhari Division of Haldummulla had caused massive environmental destruction.

MP Dinindu Saman alleged that the project had been carried out by a former Governor of the Uva Province.

Responding to the Badulla District MP, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakodi told parliament that an investigation was underway into illegal operation in the Bogahapelessa Forest Reserve.

The investigation is meant to assess the damage caused as a result of the project carried out in collaboration with the CEB and take appropriate measures to recover costs from those responsible, the Minister said.

“Over 1,000 acres of the wildlife reserve have been cleared for cultivation and constructions, blocking an elephant migration route. This illegal activity involves politicians, officials, and businessmen, with a regional farmer association also implicated in the unlawful land acquisition and electricity project.

The Bogahapelessa Forest Reserve, which connects Udawalawe, Lunugamwehera, and the Bogahapattiya forests, is vital for elephants that come to the Bogahapattiya reserve for food. However, all their migration routes have been blocked.

While it takes months for people to receive electricity, this project was granted a high-voltage power supply in an astonishingly short period of time,” the MP said.