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Environmentalists accuse the government of abandoning its green policies, exposing plans to build roads through Sinharaja, Knuckles, and Sri Pada forests, threatening endemic species and ecosystems.
Environmentalists who supported the current government’s rise to power are now accusing it of forgetting its global environmental policy promises and causing significant damage to six critical forest reserves. Despite initially championing environmental renaissance, the government is allegedly prioritizing infrastructure projects over conservation.
Sajeewa Chamikara, convener of the Land and Agricultural Reform Movement, revealed at a Colombo media conference that surveying has already been completed for a road connecting Ilumbakanda and Suriyakanda through the Sinharaja forest. This road would cut through virgin forests and sub montane rainforests, habitats for approximately ninety percent of endemic animal species in the region.
Chamikara emphasized that constructing a new road through this ecologically sensitive area, rather than repairing existing dilapidated routes, reflects political motivations rather than environmental considerations. He expressed disappointment that such actions are occurring under a government he helped bring to power.
The environmentalist further highlighted that similar destructive road construction projects threaten three other vital forest systems: Knuckles, Sinharaja, and Sri Pada. These developments facilitate the spread of invasive plant species, with Katakalu Bovitiya’s invasion of Sinharaja serving as a prime example. Chamikara warned that the biosphere is collapsing, noting that two reptile species have already been destroyed due to these activities.
Beyond Sinharaja, Chamikara pointed to numerous illegal activities occurring due to political interference in other protected areas. These include Wellawaya and Buttala Demi Kuda Oya Elephant Pass, Thethira Kanda Nature Reserve, Kebiliththa Forest in Wattegama, Kahalla Pallekele Sanctuary, and Knuckles Reserve Forest. The situation raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
