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Move to protect forests adjoining Wilpattu triggers diverse reactions
Locals protest moves to declare more than 40,000 hectares as conserved forest area
Environmental groups have welcomed the declaration made on March 24 under the Forest Conservation Ordinance to protect more than 40,000 hectares, but locals are demanding that the presidential extraordinary gazette notice be revoked.
Secretary to the President, P. B. Abeykoon on Friday met with some of the stakeholders including the Forest Conservator General, officials from the Wildlife and Mahaweli Development Ministry, the District Secretaries of Mannar and Vauniya as well as representatives of the Muslim community including Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, former Municipal Council member Asath Sally, Colombo District lawmaker Mujibur Rahuman and President of the Muslim Council N.M. Ameen. Members of the Civil Societies Coalition for Internally Displaced Persons, which is opposed to the decision, also joined the discussion.
Abeykoon said their concerns would be brought to the notice of President Maithripala Sirisena who issued the declaration.
Under the notice, 40,0030.525 hectares of forest area belonging to Mavillu, Weppal, Karadikkuli/Marichchakatti, Wilaththikulam and Periyamurippu were declared as the Mavillu Conservation Forest from March 21, 2017.
Muslim Council president N. M. Ameen told the Sunday Times that they requested that the four notifications be revoked and that the lands from Weppal, Marichchikatti and Wilaththikulam be released to the people. He said that before new forest reserves are demarcated, the Government should have discussions with the people.
Mujibur Rahuman said he told the president’s secretary that the Mavillu conservation area had been demarcated without discussing the matter with ministers and the community.
He explained that many of the Muslims living in the area had been displaced due to terrorist activities. He said that privately-owned land had also been included under the gazette notice.
“We requested that the implementation of the gazette notice be put on hold while the boundaries of the Wilpattu National Park are determined,” he said.
Mohamad Ali Khan, a resident of Marichchakatti, who was among a group of protestors, said many families have lived there for over two decades and they should be allowed to continue to do so.
Muslim Council president N. M. Ameen addressing the media
Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in a statement said that the declaration was affecting the internally displaced people. He said the gazette notice must be revoked as it is impacting the resettlement process.
He said he will present a Cabinet paper seeking the revocation of the notice.
Government Agent of Mannar, M Y S D Deshapriya said he was not aware of the notice and declined comment.
Meanwhile, the president’s media secretary, Dharmasiri Ekanayake, said the declaration will stand as it does not affect villages.
He said that the declaration was issued as a matter of urgency because environmental groups and forest and wildlife officials were pushing for it.
“They expressed concerns that there will be further encroachment of forest areas,” he said.
Director of Environment Conservation Trust, Sajeewa Chamikara, said that they called for the protection of the areas adjacent to the Wilpattu National Park.
