Kesbewa DC approves proposal to halt sale of coconut plantation

The Kesbewa Development Committee yesterday approved a proposal to request the President’s intervention in halting the sale of a coconut plantation in Dampe, Piliyandala.

Public representatives and residents had brought up this issue on many occasions. They pointed out that the 70 acre coconut plantation was being sectioned off and sold off as blocks of land.

Western Provincial Councillor (JVP) and Co-chairman of the Committee, Lakshman Nipunarachchi said the coconut plantation was the largest in the Western Province and that it belonged to a religious organization.

“It doesn’t matter to whom the land is sold; it should be maintained as a coconut cultivation. If not, we will have to face many environmental issues,” he said.

The Councillor also pointed out that the sale of the land would also affect the local coconut industry. “They have cut down more than 30 coconut trees already. This is a crime. The Grama Niladhari and area residents have entered the premises and have seen the number of trees that have been cut down,” he said.

“The security men in the premises said the trees were felled because they were struck by lightning. Everyone here knows there was no lightning in the area recently,” Nipunarachchi said.

The Coconut Development Board did not approve of the sale of the plantation initially. The paperwork for the sale was being made at the same time but they had no way of proving this, he said.

“The residents can’t stop this by themselves, so the Divisional Secretariat, Municipality, Central Environmental Authority and other organizations should intervene in stopping the sale of this land,” Nipunarchchi said.

A petition signed by the residents against the sale of the said land was also given to the Chairman of the Committee.

Meanwhile, Co-chairman and Western Provincial Councillor (UNP) Niroshan Paddukka, also speaking at the meeting said everyone was against the land being blocked off and sold.

“We accept the right of the landowner to develop the land, sell it or even give it to someone else but we can’t allow the coconut trees to be cut downand the land sold. If the trees are felled, we will be ready to file a complaint with the police regarding this,” he said.

Padukka added that the President should intervene in the matter to ensure that the land remained a coconut cultivation. “We will take measures towards this end,” he said.