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World Bank under fire for backing project to reap short-term profit at the expense of forests

Published

4 years ago

2022/09/15

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Some Forest Conservation Department officials are more interested in building roads and structures inside protected areas than protecting forests, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reforms (MONLAR) says.

“These officials are not interested in preventing illegal activities inside protected areas or raising the awareness of those who live near these areas, especially around Sinharaja Forest”, he said.

Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project (ESCAMP), a World Bank mission was a case in point, Chamikara said, alleging that it sought to develop forests as tourism centres.

“During the first part of the ESCAMP, forest conservation, officials developed roads at the Kudawa entrance. They constructed a two-kilometre road with a width of 10 feet, through Sinharaja. They even put waterlines in. A large number of freshwater crabs and amphibians lost their habitats and breeding grounds because of these constructions. We don’t see some animals like the Kangaroo lizard and the Sri Lankan green pit viper in that area anymore”, he said.

Chamikara added that the roads constructed under ESCAMP could not even be used by tourists anymore because they were slippery. At certain times forest conservation officials allow vehicles on these roads. “There are earth slips along the road and further constructions have been made to stop this”, he said.

Despite the failure of the first leg of the ESCAMP project, forest conservation officials were trying to build an eight-foot road from another entrance in the Kudawa area to the research centre in the forest, Chamikara said.He said that the proposed road would go through an area that had a lot of ferns and a number of indigenous species.

“There are also many small and micro species in this area as well. We will lose them. When swaths of forests are cleared a number of invasive species find their way into Sinharaja. Plants like Koster’s Curse (Dillenia suffruticosa) have already invaded Sinharaja. Endemic orchids, ferns, moss and many plants in the forest undergrowth have been run over. This also affects animals that depend on these plants. Sinharaja is a very sensitive and interconnected biological hotspot. Change made in one place will affect the entire system,” Chamikara said.

Chamikara said that a similar set of incidents had taken place in the Knuckles Forest Range and a number of endemic species to Knuckles were now slowly becoming extinct. “The World Bank projects like ESCAMP are aimed at short-term profit over long term sustainability,” he said.

“We are not against tourism, which is a vital source of revenue. However, you need to build tourist accommodation outside forests. Extremely sensitive forest areas must not be opened to tourists. We talk a lot about attracting quality tourists who spend a lot of money. There are tourists who spend thousands of dollars a night on nature tourism, but such individuals also like nature. They won’t come into a place where their patronage will lead to environmental destruction”, Chamikara said, adding that Sri Lanka was a party to many UN biodiversity conventions. “Successive governments talk about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the entire state mechanism is silent when large swaths of highly important forests, catchment areas and biological hot spots are destroyed to create an access way for tourism.

“Soon these access ways will be used by politicians to build hotels inside Sinharaja. We already see that those who embezzled billions of rupees from the people are now spending these moneys to purchase and renovate hotels in highly sensitive environmental areas.”

Chamikara said that the threat to Sinharaja had been increasing in the past few years. In 2020 and 2021, two circulars had been issued by the government, handing over the management of Other State Forests (OSF) to Divisional/District Secretaries, he said.

“These circulars repealed an earlier circular, 05/2001, which had transferred the management of these lands from the Divisional/District Secretaries to the Forest Department. Through circular 1/2020, the OSF were brought under Divisional/Districts Secretaries and circular 1/2021 allowed the officials to survey the OSF and allocate them for development activities. The power these two circulars granted to Divisional/Districts Secretaries has been used by those with political and financial power to clear up forest lands in Sinharaja,” he said.

Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mahinda Amaraweera said that he was not aware of this development and would look into it.

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President Commissions Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Samudra Vijaya’ into Sri Lanka Navy

Published

5 hours ago

2026/06/5

Priyan

The commissioning ceremony of the deep-sea patrol vessel as Samudravijaya, gifted to the Sri Lanka Navy by the United States Coast Guard to enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities, was held under the patronage of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on Thursday afternoon (04) at the Eastern Terminal premises of the Port of Colombo.

The vessel was officially handed over to Sri Lanka by the United States Coast Guard on 2 December 2025. Following modifications to meet the operational requirements of the Sri Lanka Navy, the vessel commenced its voyage to Colombo on 20 February 2026 from the United States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland.

The induction of the vessel marks a significant step towards further strengthening the operational capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy and enhancing the country’s maritime and national security. The vessel is expected to make an important contribution to maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, protection of fisheries resources, environmental monitoring and the enforcement of international maritime laws and conventions. In particular, it will serve as a vital asset in combating narcotics trafficking and other transnational maritime crimes, which remain major challenges for both Sri Lanka and the wider region.

During the ceremony, President Dissanayake presented the official commissioning warrant to the vessel’s Commanding Officer, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya. The President subsequently unveiled the vessel’s name board and official insignia before undertaking an inspection tour of the ship. The Commander of the Navy briefed those present on the vessel’s operational readiness, systems and capabilities.

President Dissanayake also signed the vessel’s Distinguished Visitors’ Book and was presented with a commemorative plaque featuring a replica of the vessel.

Among those present were Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunatilaka. Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.), Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.), Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya, Charge d’affaires to the U.S. Embassy Ms. Jayne Howell, Senior Defence Official and Defence Attache with Spouse Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, representatives of the Embassy and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Navy.

(PMD)

News

Elders’ home devastated by fire was a ‘house of horror’: Witnesses

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Death toll rises to 12: Director remanded

Some residents were allegedly chained

Police have come under public pressure to investigate allegations of inhumane treatmenf the residents at an elders’ home in Batagoda, which was also reportedly used as a care centre for persons with special needs, following a devastating fire that has so far claimed 12 lives.

Eyewitnesses who were among the first responders told the media that several residents had been chained inside rooms at the Senehase Kedella Elders’ Home when the fire broke out on Wednesday. They claimed that rescue efforts were hindered as iron chains could not be removed, and that some residents died while being restrained.

Authorities have not yet verified these claims, and Police said investigations are continuing.

Police spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler, contacted for comment, said there were rumours to that effect, but the Police were not in a position to verify the claims until a report from the Government Analyst was received. He said eight survivors with burn injuries were being treated in hospital.

Meanwhile, the Director of the facility had been arrested and was due to be produced before the Horana Magistrate’s Court, Police said adding that he was remanded till June 11.

The death toll from the fire has risen to 12 as of Thursday morning following the recovery of additional charred remains during ongoing forensic examinations at the site. Six others sustained serious injuries and are being treated at the Horana Base Hospital.

Police said 72 residents were inside the facility at the time of the blaze. Of them, 10 died inside the building, seven were injured and hospitalised, while 51 were rescued and relocated.

Survivors were initially housed at Batagoda Junior School before being transferred with Army assistance to another branch of the same care network in Galpatha.

A magisterial inquiry was conducted on Thursday morning. Horana Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage visited the scene. The burnt remains were examined and removed under judicial supervision.

Separately, allegations have emerged that residents were required to pay an admission fee of Rs. 75,000, along with a monthly charge of Rs. 35,000 to the centre. Police have not commented on these claims.

The director was taken to the scene as part of ongoing investigations, while forensic experts continue examinations to determine the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined.Anguruwatota Police are conducting investigations.

By Norman Palihawadane and Nishan S Priyantha

News

CERT : AI-generated videos depicting Prez, PM lure public into financial scams

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka CERT has issued a public warning over the circulation of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos falsely depicting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and several other prominent personalities to promote fraudulent investment schemes online.

According to complaints received by the national cyber security agency, the videos have been created using deepfake technology and are being used as part of attempts to defraud members of the public through financial scams.

The images of famous sports personalities and other public figures have also been misused in the deceptive content.

The agency has warned that similar AI-generated material has been used to spread false information relating to investment opportunities, employment offers, as well as matters concerning the country’s economy and tax policies.

According to Sri Lanka CERT, the videos are being widely shared across online platforms and frequently contain links urging viewers to make investments in return for purported profits.The agency has cautioned that these links may redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information, financial data and money from unsuspecting victims.

Sri Lanka CERT has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering such content online and advised against clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information through unverified websites.

“The public should remain vigilant and avoid becoming victims of false information and online fraud schemes,” the agency said.

Sri Lanka CERT has also encouraged internet users to verify information through official sources before acting on any investment, employment or financial offers circulated via social media or other online platforms.