Tempers flared in Parliament this morning (22) after Opposition MPs raised issue over the alleged continued clearing of lands inside forest reserves bordering Wilpattu National Park.

By Sandun Jayawardana
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised a question under Standing Orders, asking Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development Minister Rishad Bathiudeen on allegations that he was involved in facilitating the clearing of forest reserve lands bordering Wilpattu.

Minister Bathiudeen insisted the allegations were false, claiming that they had resurfaced recently after he raised questions over the viability of the Aruwakkalu Sanitary Landfill Project in Puttalam. He stated that some 2500 acres of lands that had been gazetted under forest reserves had been released by the previous Government to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on the recommendation of a Presidential Task Force headed by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Some 300, 000s IDPs were resettled under this Task Force, he noted. “The process of resettling the IDPs in these lands was overseen by Government officials and followed strict guidelines,” he claimed. He further added that the Mannar district, where much of the allegations are centred, has no border with Wilpattu National Park.

“No lands have been released to resettle IDPs since 2012. The new Government has not released even one inch of land for this purpose, though we have made requests,” he remarked.

Mr Dissanayake though, said that the lands should have been released only after due consultation from all stakeholders, but that Basil Rajapaksa had abused his authority to order officials to release forest reserve lands.

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella and Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga both claimed that it was clear that the problem had occurred under the previous Government. Mr Kiriella said the Government was prepared to grant a debate on the subject at a later date.

However, there was an exchange between United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who was a Minister of Environment during the period in question, and Minister Bathiudeen after the former claimed that he had turned down a request by Minister Bathiudeen at the time to release forest lands to resettle Muslim IDPs. Mr Bathiudeen accused Mr Yapa of arbitrarily declaring forest reserves from Colombo based on “Google Maps.” However, Mr Yapa shot back that all forest reserves were gazetted going by plans they had.

UPFA MPs also raised issue over alleged clearing of 75 acres of forest lands to build a new industrial complex. Minister Bathiudeen claimed this was false and that they had only requested 25 acres of land within the Kondachchi village area to build the industrial complex. “The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on this project is still being done. It will only go ahead if the EIA clears it,” he insisted.