Deforestation in Madhu reserve – environmental group

Environmental organisations claim that an illegal resettlement programme is also currently underway within the Madhu reserve in Mannar.

Environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam, national coordinator of the Centre for Environment and Nature Studies, says that clearing of the forest has already commenced and that authorities should immediately put a stop to this.

However, speaking at a press conference yesterday the Conservator General of Forests, S. A. Anura Sathurusinghe, stated that new measures have been instigated to safeguard forest reserves in the North and East.  

Meanwhile the deforestation which had taken place in Wilpattu has currently been halted as a result of President Maithripala Sirisena’s intervening.