News
Minister says pine forests will be cleared to make way for environment-friendly trees
In Nuwara Eliya district
by Douglas Nanayakkara
Under a program initiated by Forestry and Wildlife Minister C. B. Ratnayake, pine forests in the Nuwara Eliya district are to be replaced with productive indigenous trees beneficial to the eco-system.
“Pine forests serve no useful purpose either to man or animal. These trees impact adversely on the environment as they deplete the water flow in springs”, he noted.
Even animals don’t live in pine forests as there’s no water. It is time to give this matter serious thought as major rivers that provide water to both humans and animals in the country originate from Sri Pada in the Nuwara Eliya district, the Minister told the town development planning meeting at the Nuwara Municipal Council last week.
He said that under the proposed program, pine forests will be cleared by the State Timber Corporation and trees that contribute towards preserving the environment will be planted in their place, Ratnayake observed.
He said that water resources are becoming increasingly scarce largely due to pine forests, which foreigners of a by-gone era opted for in a big way to derive an income from these plantations.
Conservator of Forests, Mrs. K. A. U. D. I. Kalansooriya, said pine is found largely in Sri Lanka’s districts of Kalutara, Matara, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle, Matara and Galle. They are also found in the Hambantota and Gampaha districts to a lesser degree.
There is a total 16,000 hectares in these districts with the highest 3,500 hectares in Kandy district followed by 2,800 in Badulla district and 2,300 in Nuwara Eliya district, she said.
However, there is a school of thought amongst environmentalists that pine forests are useful as they help quick re-forestation and alleviate landslides in arid territory and abandoned tea estates.
They believe that pine, which is quite common in the hill country, although they are not native trees, play a useful role as they grow fast even on less fertile hills.
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IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
The IMF Executive Board approved emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), providing Sri Lanka with immediate access to SDR 150.5 million (about US$206 million,
equivalent to 26 percent of quota) to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability.
In response to severe weather impacts, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a diving and technical assistance operation on Friday (19 Dec 25) to clear major debris obstructing vital infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River, washed large quantities of debris, including logs and bamboo, downstream. These remain lodged in the Diyakapanathota in Gatambe, Peradeniya and Lewella bridges, obstructing the smooth flow of water.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
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