News
Illegal logging: Sigiriya residents warn officials
View(s):Area residents have warned officials regarding illegal logging activities underway at the Sigiriya sanctuary by a group of racketeers.
The residents claimed that while complaints were made to officials of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and to those at the Forest Department, the illegal logging activities have continued.
Further the residents claimed the illegal activities were ongoing alongside the Sigiriya- Habarana by-lane for a year, yet the authorities were still to take action despite the complaints.
The Sunday Timesvisited the area which has been cleared of its forest and observed that trees in the sanctuary, some more than a 100 years old, and those in the Girithale Nature Reserve were cut down.
Visible tree stumps. Pix by Kanchan Kumara
Tractor tracks and tree stumps were visible in the area where illegal logging was being done.
The bylane, a popular stop by tourists, had lost its iconic trees alongside the lane while the area was destroyed owing to vehicles transporting cut trees.
The residents claimed that they are unable to even collect twigs from the sanctuary but the large scale racketeers with the alleged support of state officials were conducting illegal logging activities.
The residents also added that the racketeers target Kolon trees which are used to make wood carvings.
A senior official at the Sigriya Wildlife Office said that the area where the trees are being cut at Habarana did not belong to this area, but it belonged to the Minneriya Girithale Nature Reserve wildlife area.
However, the Minneriya National Park warden, Pradeep Kumara said that he had not received any information regarding illegal logging taking place at the Minneriya- Girithale nature reserve and sanctuary.
He added however he would investigate the matter and take legal action against persons who carry out illegal logging activities.
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