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Council member up a gum tree over allegations she felled jak trees
View(s):The crisis-ridden Maharagama Urban Council was shaken by allegations that a member had misused council machinery to cut down four jak trees on different occasions in a land belonging to the Urban Development Authority at Thalapathpitiya in Nugegoda.
The matter was brought up at this week’s council meeting by opposition leader Ruwan Jayasinghe. He claimed the ruling party member Sumanwathi Amarasinghe, who contested under the independent group, had used council backhoes and chopped off the jack trees worth more than Rs 400,000 from March 28 last year to August 16 this year.
He alleged the member had taken not only the backhoe but also 10 council workers after writing to the council chairman, saying the men and the machine were needed for council work. He said the trees had been felled without obtaining permits from the Wildlife Department, notifying UDA, or the relevant local government officials of the area concerned.
The opposition leader said the Udahamulla division Gramaseaka had lodged a complaint at the Mihrihana police, but little or no action had been taken as council member Amarasinghe’s husband was a union leader with powerful connections
When the Sunday Times queried, the Council’s Secretary K D Dilrukshi said there was a court case following a complaint regarding the felling of the first tree but there were no more complaints after that.
She said the trees which were cut down were not handed over to the Timber Corporation but claimed they were not situated in UDA-owned lands.
Council Chairman Tiraj Lakruwan Piyartne told the Council meeting he would inquire about the matter. He said he had also instructed the police to intervene and take action.
Meanwhile, opposition members said Ms Amarasinghe should resign or be removed as she had brought the council into disrepute.
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