Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Nobody allowed to meddle with Muthurajaw­ela Sanctuary: Lansa

- BY YOHAN PERERA

No one will be allowed to carry out any developmen­t work in the Muthurajaw­ela Sanctuary, State Minister for Rural Roads and Other Infrastruc­ture Nimal Lansa said during the weekend.

State Minister, Nimal Lansa expressed these views while inaugurati­ng the developmen­t of the Negombo Wellaveedi­ya Road on Saturday.

This area is connected to the Negombo Lagoon. Therefore, no developmen­t work is allowed in this area. We agree with Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith who opposed this move to carry out developmen­t work in Muthurajaw­ela

“We have seen in the media reports that an unauthoriz­ed hotel complex was going to be constructe­d in the Muthurajaw­ela Reserve. It should be clearly stated that no one is allowed to carry out any developmen­t work in the Muthurajaw­ela Sanctuary.the water from the low- lying areas of the Gampaha District flows into this land. This area is connected to the Negombo Lagoon. Therefore, no developmen­t work is allowed in this area. We agree with Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith who opposed this move to carry out developmen­t work in Muthurajaw­ela,” State Minister Lansa said.

“We are now in the process of digging the unauthoris­ed filling that had been done. We have also informed the Department of Agrarian Developmen­t, the Department of Wildlife and other relevant institutio­ns to inform us of any unauthoris­ed filling taking place. Fillings in Muthurahaw­ela will be removed in the due course,” he added.

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