A request has been made to appoint a Presidential Commission to probe the controversy surrounding the Wilpattu forest issue, State Minister Niroshan Perera says.
The State Minister said that a request has been made to the President to provide the required investigation reports within the next three months.
He also accused the government of turning a blind eye to take appropriate measures to halt alleged forest clearing activities that have taken place at the Wilpattu Sanctuary as well as the other protected areas surrounding it.
“As the accusations made go against the principles of good governance, the Presidential Committee would pave way to release the necessary details to the public, in due course,” he said.
He further stated that the Muslim community, who had resided in the Wilpattu region that had been made internally displaced due the war, will be resettled. However, he said that the real problem lies with the fact that the acts of deforestation happen under the guise of resettlement programmes.
