Mp.vijithamuni praises Devani

UPFA MP Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa yesterday praised Gampaha Divisional Forest Officer Devani Jayatilleka for her efforts to save the Kadolkale Mangroves and said public servants like her were able to act without fear because of the culture of freedom introduced by the yahapalana government.

During my tenure as the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, I did everything to protect the environment. I was the first to oppose the proposal to use lagoons and waterways for sea plane operations prior to 2015

Mr. de Soysa, who joined the United National Party (UNP), told a news conference that it was the previous yahapalana government which created an environment for such officials to act independently.

“We in the yahapalana government instituted independent commissions such as the Police Commission and the Public Service Commission. It was the previous government which created an environment where politicians were barred from interfering with the work of public servants and their transfers,” he said.

The MP said he agreed with the forest officer because it was important to conserve the mangroves. “During my tenure as the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, I did everything to protect the environment. I was the first to oppose the proposal to use lagoons and waterways for sea plane operations prior to 2015,” he said.