Protect Wilpattu- a precious national treasure
With reference to the article headlined “Road Closed……….” in the Sunday Times, February 15, 2015 (page 20) by Jayarathna Wickramarachchi
Abandoned Hume pipes on the road
from Karuwalagaswewa, I would like to comment ob the article.
The re-opening of the Puttalam-Mannar road is a misnomer as it has no legal validity in law. However, while this matter is sub-judice, a number of articles placed by those with vested interests may have already prejudiced the case. The fact is that three environmental organisations, namely Environmental Foundation Limited, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka and the Leopard Trust, have filed a plaint in the Supreme Court citing a number of respondents to the case including the Minister of Wildlife, the Director and Secretary of Wildlife, the Navy Commander and various others. I believe the plaint is simply asking the court to rule on the legality of having a public roadway through a national park.
The law is clearly defined in the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. It is now common knowledge these laws were mere statutes (black letter laws, as distinguished from case law) not followed by the previous Government. Then and now all that ‘we the people’ could do was to seek justice
life prohibiting access without a permit
through the courts.
It is my understanding that as it stands today the road may not be used legally by the public. Thus no government body had the right to permit access to the public without a permit issued by the DWLC. But the courts asked the parties to come to a settlement, when the plaint merely prayed for an interpretation of the law. The Department of Wildlife has proposed the same solution (follow the law) to the court i.e. to get a permit from either entrance to the national park along with a guide who would ensure that the rules and guidelines are adhered to while in the park.
There are good reasons why the British did not build a road through the park. Wilpattu was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1905. On February 25, 1938, the sanctuary was elevated to the status of National Wildlife Park. On November 7, 1947, the northern area of Wilpattu was declared as Wilpattu North Sanctuary. The road that existed before 1938 was a cart path, before that many attempts to make it accessible by the British failed because of the vast amounts of water that course through the rivulets during the monsoon season in October to December every year.
I have been visiting this park since October 1962. Attached are some photographs taken in December 2013 showing what happened to hume pipes illegally laid by the Navy to make it a public roadway under orders. The picture above also shows the DWLC board stating that entry is with a permit only, During the Palu season people stop along the sides and break many Palu branches etc.
road damaged by heavy rains
While having a road increases the value of my estate located in Vanathavillu, that would be selfish of me. Allowing an access road through this very precious national treasure, which has one of the most marvellous and unique terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the world, 131,000 hectares of land and extended on through the Kala Oya basin Gange Wadiya to Dutch Bay, Portugal Bay, the Bar Reef, Sri Lanka’s largest shallow natural reef and on to the islands of Kalpitiya beyond. A public road will destroy this ecosystem for all future generations.
I am well aware that after 2010 a particular Minister rushed to settle/build with Saudi money, houses not for the poor only, in the north/western border of Wilpattu in Mullikulam on the banks of the Modera Gam aru within the buffer zone. It is to these new settlements that the New Mannar Road across Wilpattu is important. The question arises why did they have to build without access to Puttalam? There was clearly an understanding
Butterfly catchers within the park and inset
between this Minister and the then Ministry of Defence to give this road access in violation of the laws. The only established town beyond this to the north is Silavathurai, some 20 km away. I would argue that the Kal aru further north should be the park boundary.
The argument made that Muslims displaced from Mannar and settled in Puttalam should be given access is another that I do not buy. It was a great shame what happened when the LTTE gave them 24 hours to clear out. Fortunately these people were accommodated in Puttalam up to Elavankulam, where they have settled down for over 20 years now.
There is speculation not substantiated that VIPs from the former Government had earmarked/leased out large 300 acre blocks of land on either side of Wilpattu at Gange Wadiya/Elavankulam and Mullikulam/Pookulam lagoon where the Navy have acquired illegally a command/holiday place for top brass on either end as well, these I have seen.
As for the Pallenkandal church also known as Kelle Palliya it is a place inhabited by many wild elephants, who graze along Pomparripu plains to
tree marked for felling for the road expansion
the abandoned church, now revived once again illegally with the approval of the Minister of Wildlife in 2014; note he was not authorised to do so. In the past the villagers of Elavankulam and Vanathavillu would go for an annual event there for two or three days. But now a priest conducts a sermon on Tuesdays and is trying to revive this place. Why try to attract a flock of people into the middle of the jungle? It is better that this priest settles in the village closer to his congregation.
I appeal to the present government to address these matters according to the laws of the land. Protect these ecosystems for the whole country rather than giving in to the short term needs of some.
Once again remember the Old Mannar Road as it was called then was a mere cart path that stopped being used once the National Park was declared in 1938. The New Mannar Road is a new trace and does not follow the old path in many places. The high handed and illegal use of the road is despicable because should the court rule in favour of the statute in place some of the road users will make a big song and dance to pressure the Government. I hope that the Government will stand firm to preserve this area for the overall wellbeing of the nation.