News
Politicians, cops and businessmen gang up to rape Kebilitta
By Jagath Kanaheraarachchi
Two former ministers, a senior policeman, a prominent monk and several others are involved in clearing Kotiyagala Forest Reserve in Kebilitta illegally.Over 60,000 acres of forest land have already been cleared, environmentalists complain.The forest reserve is located at Siyambalanduwa Pradesheeya sabha in Moneragala and the land cleared in this area is 20 times bigger that the clearings close to the Wilpattu National Park, recently.
The government has allocated 25,000 acres from this forest reserve for people who were displaced by various development activities in the district. Taking advantage of this, several powerful individuals have started clearing more land, using heavy equipment.Environmentalists claim that the initial allocation of land too was done arbitrarily.The land that is being cleared is the home to many plant and animal species and act as a corridor for animals to travel between Kumana and Yala National Parks.
Environmentalists claim that various powerful groups have taken advantage of the decision by the government to hand over the management of “Other State Forests (OSF)” to Divisional/Districts Secretaries.
Cleared forest areas
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Secretary of the Ministry of Lands issued a circular (02/2021), “Survey and Allocation of Government Lands” on 06 August 2021 informing all the District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries that the “Forests and wildlife conservations declared by the Director General of Forests in a Gazette and other Government lands other than the wildlife areas gazetted by the Director General of Wildlife should be kept in his custody.”
This gazette has been abused to release forests for various projects that are backed by politicians and their allies, environmentalists claim.Environmentalists also claim that the politicians have instigated the people of the area to seize land from the forest reserve. On 02 June a large group of people, travelling in hundreds of vehicles, entered the forest reserve and started to clear land.
Jayantha Wijesinghe from Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka said that the IGP had instructed regional police chiefs to stop the encroachment of the forest. However, a senior politician in the area has sided the encroachers.
“This police officer has justified the encroachment. Because this man holds a key post, it has been impossible to stop those who try to encroach the forest reserve. It’s time that the government immediately did something to stop this ecological disaster,” he said.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
USA’s Ali Khan claims having been ‘denied’ India visa ahead of T20 World Cup
At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business4 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News4 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Features4 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features4 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News4 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
Business24 hours agoNew policy framework for stock market deposits seen as a boon for companies
-
Opinion6 days agoThe minstrel monk and Rafiki, the old mandrill in The Lion King – II
-
News4 days ago65 withdrawn cases re-filed by Govt, PM tells Parliament