News
Authorities turn blind eye to construction of hotels on elephant corridor
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Two businessmen were constructing hotels blocking the Menikkawatta, Bowitiyatenna elephant corridor, which is used by elephants to cross from Morning Side, a part of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve to Dellawa – Walankanda forest, environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara said yesterday.
Chamikara told The Island that one hotel was being built by the son-in-law of a wealthy gem merchant in Kalawana; seven acres of forest land have already been cleared.
The Kalawana Pradeshiya Sabha had allowed the construction of the hotel, despite violation of the environmental laws, he said.
According to Chamikara, the other hotel was being built by a businessman from Godakawala ; he has cleared eight acres of forest land in Bowitiyatenna.
Chamikara said: “Because of these constructions, lives and property of those living in Rambuka, Thanawela, Ellagama, Handiyakade, Kajugaswatta, Pothupitiya, Kopikella and Cypresswatta will be in danger. Recently, a lot of new land was attached to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve but using political and economic power these businessmen are building hotels, destroying the environment.
He said the area was prone to landslides. Given the importance of the area, any development activity would have to be highly regulated.
“All constructions here are highly regulated. According to the gazette notification 772/22 issued under the National Environmental Act, no 47 of 1980; an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has to be carried out when engaging in development activities over a hectare. An EIA has to be conducted when any development activity is carried out within 100 metres of a protected forest area. But neither of these hotels has obtained any environmental approvals.”
Chamikara said that the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) had the power to take legal action against those violations. Unfortunately, the authorities had not taken any action, he said.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) on Friday said the largest groundwater source discovered in Sri Lanka so far had been identified during tube-well drilling near the Pitabeddara Police Station.
Indrajith Gamage, geologist in charge of the Southern Province, said the source recorded a continuous flow of about 10,000 litres (10 cubic metres) per minute, marking the first instance in the country where a groundwater source of that magnitude had been found.
He noted that the previous largest groundwater source was discovered in the Madhu area, which recorded a flow of about 7,000 litres per minute.
According to the NWSDB, the tube well was drilled following geological studies of rock layers and the identification of underground water through fractures in rock strata using specialised technical instruments.
The Board said steps would be taken to distribute water from the newly discovered source to residents facing shortages in Pitabeddara, Morawaka and surrounding areas.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has formally handed over its historical records to the National Archives Department, entrusting over a century of the nation’s commercial history to the country’s official custodians of heritage.
The archive, spanning from the CCC’s founding in 1839 to 1973, includes correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, ledgers, and publications that chronicle the development of trade, enterprise, and industry in Sri Lanka. Together, the records provide a rare and detailed account of the island’s economic evolution and the role of its business community in shaping national progress.
The Ministry of Defence said on Friday (13) that arrangements had been made to repatriate to Iran the bodies of 84 sailors who died aboard the IRIS Dena, which sank in the southern seas off Sri Lanka.
A special aircraft carrying the bodies departed from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on Friday, the Ministry said, adding that the repatriation was carried out in coordination with the Embassy of Iran in Sri Lanka.
The remains had been kept in two mobile cold-storage units at the Galle National Hospital before being transported to Mattala by lorry following a court order. Forty-five bodies were moved in the morning, while the remaining 39 were transported later in the day.
Earlier this month, the Iranian naval vessel suffered an incident about 40 nautical miles off Port of Galle while carrying around 180 personnel. Thirty-five rescued sailors were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, while 84 bodies were subsequently recovered.
Following the incident, Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Iranian vessel had been sunk in international waters by a torpedo fired from a submarine of the United States Navy.
Showers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara, Mannar and Anuradhapura districts after 2.00 pm.
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