News
Pallekandal shrine going ahead with alleged destructive plans
The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) is to take legal action against intrusions and illegal constructions within the Wilpattu National Park, while a group of Roman Catholics are preparing to lodge a complaint with Pope Francis about the church’s action in the destruction of this Protected Area.
In the eye of the storm is the Pallekandal shrine of St. Anthony more than 6km interior from Eluvankulama. Many Roman Catholics as well as environmentalists are aghast that the Wanathavilluwa Parish, falling under the Chilaw Diocese, is going ahead with alleged grand and destructive plans to celebrate the beloved saint’s feast next week within the Wilpattu National Park.
The Sunday Times understands that tractors with slashers allegedly deployed by the Wanathavilluwa Parish with the tacit support of politicians in the area are clearing the beautiful pitiya (grasslands) usually frequented by the majestic wild elephants of Wilpattu.
“The irony is also that the state land near the shrine is being allotted for shops and stalls with rents allegedly being collected by the Wanathavilluwa Parish,” said an irate Roman Catholic, while another lamented that when the dire need is to protect every green area available in the country, especially within Protected Areas, the church seemed bent on destroying what little was left.
Another Roman Catholic pointed out that these actions are also clearly in contravention of the Encyclical issued by the Pope about protecting nature.
The location of the shrine is named Pallekandal after the grasslands in the vicinity. Not only do wild elephants with babies forage here but the area is also an archaeological site.
Nature lovers who have been visiting the Wilpattu National Park over the years recall how Pallekandal was a tiny and temporary shrine where a handful of devotees would gather in July, put up temporary tents, worship and leave.
The rape of Pallekandal began after about 2011, it is understood, with the Wanathavilluwa Parish allegedly putting a stranglehold on this scenic spot with the backing of politicians in the area.
Slowly and surely the Wanathavilluwa Parish has destroyed and denuded more than 10 acres (four hectares) of the Wilpattu National Park, and is allegedly even eyeing more and more Protected Area land, another environmentalist lamented.
A round of calls by the Sunday Times to the Roman Catholic Church failed to elicit a response, with directions that it is the Bishop’s House in Chilaw which should be contacted. Attempts to contact the Vicar-General of Chilaw proved futile.
The Sunday Times on June 19 in an exclusive report with photographic evidence highlighted the destruction of the pristine Wilpattu National Park. The report was headlined, ‘Shameful saga at Pallekandal shrine – Is Wilpattu National Park being desecrated in the name of a beloved saint’.
| WNPS, EFL express serious concernTwo powerful environmental organisations have raised serious concerns over the violations of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) within the Wilpattu National Park.“The expansion of a simple jungle shrine into a church within the Wilpattu National Park is in direct violation of the FFPO,” stressed a spokesperson for the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) after a meeting of its Conservation Sub-committee yesterday. The Conservation Sub-committee met to decide on the course of action the WNPS with a membership of more than 3,000 should take in the light of what is happening in the heart of the Wilpattu National Park, 6.3km from the Kala Oya boundary at the Pallekandal shrine which has now been turned into permanent structures. This conservation non-governmental organisation and watchdog plays a major role in warding off threats to Protected Areas and safeguarding Sri Lanka’s biodiversity. Pointing out that the humble jungle shrine at Pallekandal where a handful of devotees gathered once a year for ‘traditional use’, has now been turned into a permanent church where a large crowd congregates every month, the WNPS spokesperson reiterated that it is a clear violation of the FFPO. Meanwhile, “totally illegal” is how the church’s activities within the Wilpattu National Park are described by a spokesperson of Environmental Foundation Ltd (EFL). “Under ‘traditional use’ the shrine may be used once a year but there can be no development of the shrine or any construction in this Protected Area which is strictly governed by the FFPO,” the spokesperson said, adding that Google earth images and photographic evidence over the past five to six years clearly indicate a lot of illegal development at Pallekandal.
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| Wildlife Minister explains matters to local politicians Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, on hearing of the issues at the Wilpattu National Park, immediately responded by contacting the local politicians and explaining to them what activities should not be carried out within this Protected Area, a Ministry spokesman said when contacted by the Sunday Timesyesterday.The Minister will stand firm against the destruction or clearing of any part of the Wilpattu National Park, the spokesman said, commending officials of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) for their efforts in protecting National Parks.
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