Connect with us

News

Lanza threatens to resign against Govt. take over of Muthurajawela

Published

on

Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza has threatened to resign from his post if the government does not withdraw the gazette notification empowering the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to acquire hundreds of hectares from the Muthurajawela wetlands.

Speaking at a ceremony held in Negombo on Saturday, the Minister said that he believed in people’s allegation that a certain party was trying to reverse the decision to withdraw the gazette intended to acquire the Muthurajawela wetlands.

“A committee comprising Environment Minister, Wildlife Minister, Urban Development Minister and Finance Minister decided to conserve the 1,447 hectares which had been gazetted as a wildlife and forest conservation zone in 2006 and 2008 instead of the new gazette. They decided to withdraw the new gazette. Gampaha District leader Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle and MP Nalin Fernando too have demanded the withdrawal of the gazette. It has not yet been done. The Divisional Secretaries tell us that the gazette is still in force. Therefore, I clearly state that I am not going to hold this post unless our demand is met.”

The Minister said the new gazette proposed to declare some 4,400 hectares of land in addition to the 1,447 hectares as the Muthurajawela Environment Sensitive Zone.

“We request the government to conserve at least the area of 1,447 hectares as gazetted earlier. According to the new gazette, lands used by temples, churches, and people for about 200 years will be acquired by the UDA,” he said.

Minister Lanza said that Wattala, Ja Ela, Katana and Negombo electoral development coordinating committees had passed resolutions that the gazette should be rescinded.



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Department of Irrigation extends flood warnings issued to the basin areas of the Nilwala, Kalu and Gin rivers

Published

on

By

[File pic] The sand bank at the river mouth of the Nilwala river being cleared (pic Matara District Media Unit)

The Amber flood warnings issued by the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division of the Department of Irrigation for the basins of the Nilwala, Gin and  Kalu Rivers  and the sub basin of the Kuda Ganga  which is a tributary of the Kalu Ganga at 9.00am on Friday(28) has been extended for another twenty four (24) hours and will be effective until 9.00am on Saturday (30).

Residents and motorists driving through the area are requested to pay necessary attention to the warning.

Continue Reading

News

Kerala cannabis with a street value of over Rs. 33 million held by Navy in Kareinagar

Published

on

By

The three sacks contained over 100kg of Kerala cannabis (pic Navy)

A special search operation conducted by the Navy in the beach area of Pumattei on the Kareinagar Island, Jaffna in the dark hours of 27th September 2023 led to the seizure of a dinghy loaded with over 100kg (wet weight) of Kerala cannabis believed to have a street value of over Rs 33 million.

The 49 packages of Kerala Cannabis were in three sacks found in the dinghy. The consignment of Kerala cannabis and the dinghy were taken into  naval custody.

 

Continue Reading

News

Crystal Methamphetamine valued at over Rs. 15 million held in Dehiwala

Published

on

By

A coordinated search operation conducted by the Navy and Police Crime Division, Colombo led to the apprehension of a suspect with about 1kg and 10g of Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice) in the Dehiwala area on the evening of 27th September 2023.

The gross street value of seized drugs is believed to be over Rs. 15 million.

Continue Reading

Trending