Protecting Knuckles is our duty

There are various allegations regarding the proposal to acquire land from the Knuckles forest reserve for various purposes.

The Agriculture Minister is reported to have sought a detailed report on the area earmarked for development work. This matter has been discussed at a Cabinet meeting. Knuckles is a very valuable forest reserve and we should not use this UNESCO World Heritage site for haphazard development work.

The Knuckles mountain range features 34 peaks ranging in height between 1900 metres and 900 metres.

The mountain range lies in central Sri Lanka in the districts of Matale and Kandy. People of the villages traditionally referred to this area as Dumbara Kanduvetiya meaning mist-laden mountain range.

The higher montane area is often robed in thick layers of cloud. In addition to its aesthetic value, the range is of great scientific interest.

The name Knuckles came from a series of recumbent folds and peaks which resembles the knuckles of a clenched fist when viewed from certain locations in Kandy district.

More than 34 percent of Sri Lanka’s endemic trees, shrubs and herbs are only found in these forests.

The Knuckles range is home to mammals such as wild boar, spotted deer, giant squirrel, barking deer, purple faced monkey and mongoose. Porcupines are also found here and many varieties of lizards also make their home here.

Knuckles features a great diversity in its forest cover - dry green forests, montane forests, sub montane forests, dry and wet patana, sevana etc.

The average annual rainfall of the highland areas of Knuckles is 5000 mm.

Knuckles is a major tourist attraction. It is our duty to protect this natural paradise for our future generations.

D. Weeratunga Nugegoda