DAMBULLA PS MEMBER INVOLVED

Amember of the Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) is alleged to have constructed a road through the Sigiriya Sanctuary in Udawalayagama area that comes within the purview of the Wildlife Conservation Department. The Sigiriya Range Forest Conservator S.N. Bandaranayake said the Department initiated an immediate investigation of the incident, as the department had not granted permission to construct a road through the sanctuary. He said the PS member had cleared a vast area of the forest reserve and that he ordered the road construction works to be suspended immediately.

President of the Farmer Organisation in the area W.G. Nimal said the road had been named as Govipala Road and the Pradeshiya Sabha had allocated

The PC member was constructing a road to a deserted area illegally occupied only by a group of individuals who were clearing the forest reserve for Chena cultivation while Udawalayagama village with a large population was facing hardship for want of basic facilities

Rs.600,000 for the project. He pointed out that the PC member was constructing a road to a deserted area illegally occupied only by a group of individuals who were clearing the forest reserve for Chena cultivation while Udawalayagama

village with a large population was facing hardship for want of basic facilities. He said the Pradeshiya Sabha should have given priority to the needs of a large population in the village. Representatives of the Farmer Organisation pointed out that trees in a vast area of the sanctuary had been felled without least concern about its environmental damage.

Meanwhile Secretary of the Pradeshiya Sabha MRS.B.M.M. Balasuriya said the resolution had been passed in council to construct the road but funds had not yet been allocated. She said she did not know how the PC member got permission to construct the road.