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New Wildlife Chief vows to withstand political pressure
Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya
Sri Lanka’s newly-appointed Wildlife Chief is standing firm and asserted this week that he will not bow to any political pressure.
“I will never-ever violate the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, neither will I bow down to political pressure in carrying out my work,” Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director-General Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya declared categorically soon after assuming duties on Wednesday.
Touching on several burning issues, the Director-General in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times on Thursday said that Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe nominated him for the post on the basis that he was a professional with the right academic background and knowledge.
When asked what made him take up, what some may call a ‘political appointment’, he reiterated that the PM’s nomination was based on the fact that he (Dr. Pilapitiya) had the academic knowledge as well as extensive experience in the World Bank managing its wildlife projects, which would enable him to handle this job.
Dr. Pilapitiya was the Lead Environmental Specialist for the South Asia Environment, Water Resources and Climate Change Unit at the World Bank office. He sought early retirement last year to study the social behaviour of elephants.
He was approached by the Government in January this year to take up the post of DG of the DWC. “Originally I agreed but had second thoughts later and decided against taking up this post. But as the PM made a personal request once again, I changed my mind,” says Dr. Pilapitiya, dispelling speculation that he was made the offer in March after a controversy erupted over the proposed landfill close to the buffer zone of the Wilpattu National Park, for garbage from Colombo.
Clarifying the situation, he said that he was offered the post in January. However, on February 1, when he changed his mind, Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera requested him to meet the PM, which he did on March 2.
On March 1, meanwhile, there had been a discussion on the proposed landfill between the Megapolis and Western Regional Development Ministry and the DWC’s Acting Director-General, Chandrasiri Bandara, where Mr. Bandara objected heavily to it based on very serious environmental and wildlife concerns.
“It was on March 2 that the PM requested me to accept this job. There is a misconception that Mr. Bandara was removed over the landfill objection and I have been appointed to do the Government’s bidding. My meeting with the PM and the landfill meeting was a simple coincidence,” explains Dr. Pilapitiya.
Categorically stating his stand with regard to the proposed landfill, Dr. Pilapitiya says that it is “an unsuitable site” to dump garbage.
“Even before the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done about one and a half years ago, I objected to this location. Then I was working at the World Bank and refused to be part of this project, when the Government tried to seek World Bank funding for this,” he says, giving the background.
“My position is still the same as it was then, when I told them that a garbage landfill near the buffer zone of the Wilpattu National Park was a specific ‘No, no’,” says Dr. Pilapitiya, adding that “just because I am the DG of Wildlife Conservation now, does not make way for what was ‘unsuitable’ to become ‘suitable’.”
Discussions with the Secretary of the Megapolis and Western Region Development Minister have been held on March 23 and a decision taken to look for another site in the same area but much away from the buffer zone and closer to the cement quarries. “A comprehensive EIA which includes the impact on archaeological sites will be essential once again before a final decision is made on a new landfill,” Dr. Pilapitiya added.
(Please see PLUS cover for his vision for the DWC)