Director of Environment Conservation Trust (ECT) Sajeewa Chamikara says that the mass destruction of environment may take place if a forest reserve in Sri Lanka’s northeast Padaviya area is vested to Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.
He said that 12,900 hectares (50 sq miles) of the 48,451 hectare Padaviya forest reserve are to be handed over to Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority to establish settlements.
The gazette notification in this regard has already been compiled and it is to be published soon, said the environmentalist.
According to him, this area situated to the west of the Padaviya reservoir is a catchment area of the reservoir with unique environmental features. The environmental destruction in this sensitive area may have severe backlash, he said.
Further, the area provides habitat to the elephants and many other vulnerable species, he said.
Sri Lanka President is expected to visit the Mahaweli settlement near this area today to hand over deeds to 3,000 farmer families in the Mahaweli L Zone in the northeast part of the island.