Presidential directive to halt large-scale land reclamation in Ja-ela

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has taken steps to halt large-scale land reclamation carried out illegally in two separate locations in Dandugama, Ja-ela, following a directive issued by President Maithripala Sirisena, President Media Unit said.

According to a complaint lodged by the people in the area in this regard to the President, yesterday (03), he instructed the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority to investigate into the incident visiting that place with the relevant parties.

 Accordingly, the officials of the Central Environmental Authority and the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development Corporation (SLLR&DC), together with the police officers of Ja-ela Police, commenced investigations at the place. Under the directive of the President, the officials took actions to stop those unauthorized land mining.

Legal actions will be taken against the persons who reclamated a large area of the land by damaging the kadolana environment system in Muthurajawela.
President had instructed the officials earlier as well to give the maximum punishment against those who engage in unauthorized land reclamation in a way to damage the environment and the bio diversity.