Three arrested for destroying mangroves
Police on Friday arrested three persons who were using a backhoe to clear mangroves in a two-and-ahalf acre stretch of land at Shoththuwadiya in Kalpitiya .
The Kalpitiya police took the driver of the backhoe, his two assistants and the vehicle into custody.
Sarath Jayanath, attached to the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency ( NARA), who visited the location, said a large number of rare mangrove species and Wewal trees were among the plants that had been destroyed. He said several markers had been recently put up by the Department of Forest Conservation ( DFC) indicating the land was a reservation area.
Kalpitiya Divisional Secretary Nandana Somaratne said he had received complaints from the public on July 4 that several individuals were engaged in cutting down mangroves on this land and had issued orders via two Grama Niladaris ordering them to halt the activity.
He added that when on July 6 he noticed his orders were ignored and the mangroves were being destroyed, he informed the DFC’s Puttalam office.
Officer in Charge of the Kalpitiya Police, Inspector Lakshman Ranwala Arachchi stated that a deed had been presented claiming ownership of the plot of land and that police will seek assistance from relevant institutions to verify its authenticity. Nevertheless, according to the Flora and Fauna Ordinance, it was still and offence to destroy mangroves and Wewal trees even on private land without a permit.
The suspects and productions will be produced before the Puttalam Magistrate.