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Bathiudeen re-settling people in forest reserves: environmentalists

13 May 2014 08:53 am - 50     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Four leading environmental associations today charged that Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had illegally cleared 18,000 acres of forest land belonging to leading wildlife parks in three districts.

The Center for Environmental justice, the Environment Conservation Trust, the Sri Lanka Environment Congress and the Buddhist Collective for Nature said the Minister had cut down trees in forest reserves at 14 locations in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu.

Center for Environmental Justice Executive Director Hemantha Vithanage said the forests have been cleared violating the Environmental Act. He charged that the Minister is currently inflicting undue influence on the authorities to release some more land in the Madhu area for the resettlement of people.

Mr. Vithnage said the resettlement of internally displaced persons was completed in 2012 but the forests were being cleared under the guise of making room for re-settling people.  

Environment Conservation Trust Director Sanjeewa Chamikara said lands have been cleared in Periya Madhu, Kalaru, Karunkalipurum.  In addition he said a 100km road had been constructed along the Wilpathu wildlife Park while the same thing had been done in Mankuluma area where roads have been constructed towards the forests.(YP and DS)






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  Comments - 50

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  • Sam Wednesday, 14 May 2014 12:27 AM

    Problem in This country is always communal. No any Muslim minister or opposition member raise any concern. How can we raise as a country, when everything is measured on communal ground.
    is there any right thinking Muslim to go against this idiotic minister.

    Jam Tuesday, 13 May 2014 12:41 PM

    This is paid advertisement.

    waduge Tuesday, 13 May 2014 01:07 PM

    Anything is possible in Sri Lanka.

    ANTON Tuesday, 13 May 2014 01:42 PM

    I LOVE FORESTS, I LOVE ANIMALS, BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVE HUMANS ........
    - ANTON

    ToyGun Tuesday, 13 May 2014 02:56 PM

    Hey man, we are talking of carpet bombing. If you have a carpet have a look at it. A typical brain washed pinhead.

    ToyGun Tuesday, 13 May 2014 02:59 PM

    All the valuable prime land is being sold to foreigners and no one can see it. Time for the Google maps to be updated so that our pinheads can see it.

    Rehan Tuesday, 13 May 2014 03:16 PM

    At least this is to resettle mankind who has suffered immensely for the past 30 years .... After all they are Sri Lankans too

    Badudeen Tuesday, 13 May 2014 04:56 PM

    Bathiudeen......, Cut the whole thing!!

    king Tuesday, 13 May 2014 05:03 PM

    they go to live in jungles,because they dont have homes.give them homes in livebla areas.then they never go to jungles to live.

    Mohan Peiris Tuesday, 13 May 2014 06:32 PM

    It is good finally everything coming to open. Also I herd now Army and Navy camps been built in these areas. Also new private hotels, villas and luxury holidy homes been built in Jungles, mountain tops and in animal habitats. All these should be investigated.
    Also the acres of jungles in Mattala and Hambanthota cleared to build Airports and harbours should be investigated.

    Dinesh Tuesday, 13 May 2014 07:54 PM

    Jihad training center...Very soon we have to fight another civil war....

    Bernard Wijeyasingha Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:00 PM

    Rishad Bathaudeen should face criminal charges and a jail sentence. He should never be allowed to be a politician again.

    Sinhaya Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:49 PM

    The regime has put the final nail on their own coffin. Basil publicly said that he authorised Bathiuddeen to have this land. What right Basil has to do that? Muslims who have been planted there now come up with stories saying those are their ancestry lands and even they have their burial grounds of their ancestors in those areas, which is an absolute lie. Basil was able to silence BBS by his intervention, but people can't be fooled. This regime must go. They only want to rule Colombo, South and the North as their country, not any other part. They will barter our forest reserves for Muslim votes, Let JVP come in to power (whether they are good or bad) and clean out this mess.

    bacadi Tuesday, 13 May 2014 11:56 AM

    What about the Mattala Airport, wasn't it the forest and nature

    vijayan Wednesday, 14 May 2014 12:38 AM

    Yes this guy has to cut down all the jungles to colonize with Muslims,because Muslims don't have any birth control,They are already a majority in east, making the tamils minority.Now they are concentrating on the Mannar district, Government has given this guy all the authorities ,He could not go in when the LTTE was there.This is a hidden plan of the muslims.

    vijayan Wednesday, 14 May 2014 12:45 AM

    This guy is very dangerous,Very soon he will make srilanka a Muslim country, .It is a bigger plan ,They mus population is a population explosion, Whe lion and tiger fight the fox run off with the kill.

    Yusuf Wednesday, 14 May 2014 02:32 AM

    One must first try to put up the maps of places where there lived prior to them being chased away by LTTE. Naturally, any uninhabited land will become a think jungle within less than 10 years. These accusations are based on hate rather than facts.

    xlntgson Wednesday, 14 May 2014 03:15 AM

    Population explosion is by Chinese, Muslim nations are underpopulated!

    Nanada Wednesday, 14 May 2014 04:32 AM

    Why BBS eye only in the this issues, what's happening in Ruhunupura( හම්බන්තොට), one family only benefiting all the forest, BBS silence on it?

    T Wickramaratnakrama Wednesday, 14 May 2014 04:53 AM

    Don't Sri Lanka have an Executive President who has the power to stop Cabinet Ministers abusing power?

    pottuvilan Wednesday, 14 May 2014 05:08 AM

    what about 2000 acres for American company for Banana cultivation given by Gvt on this area.???

    Kiris Baba Amaray Wednesday, 14 May 2014 07:39 AM

    Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is asking for another blow from BBS I suppose.

    Shirhan Wednesday, 14 May 2014 08:29 AM

    Guys in my birth certificate and ID card it was mentioned that my birth place is Periya Madhu, can these so call environmentalist can show me my birth place before our families were send by LTTE in 1990 in the Google Map. We still have the title deed for our land with proper registration in Mannar DS office since 1960’s.

    sumith Wednesday, 14 May 2014 12:02 PM

    How can you say so? this is the reserved area by forest department. otherwise they can raise the issue through their legal rights.

    Gnanachora Friday, 16 May 2014 05:15 AM

    Where should this muslims resettled?

    Asoka Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:56 AM

    My heart stopped when I saw the 4th image...While the whole word talk about green...some people looking to make this world a Muslim world...will anybody survive like this...

    Dulan Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:13 AM

    Thanks BBS for raising this issue. But monks must not be aggressive

    kankan Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:20 AM

    This destruction must be investigated as this may cause environmental changes which will be irreversible.

    saman Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:22 AM

    100 km road , 18,000 acres .. so how many families settled ?

    ruwan Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:26 AM

    Law and order gone into the hands of followers of the big for big deals
    If you have influence you can do anything in SL

    kumar Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:27 AM

    All diaspora money.

    indi Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:35 AM

    Who is responsible. Who appointed him a minister. He has been given the power. don't blame him please

    BBM Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:39 AM

    *@#$%^&*()^&%$#@

    PREM Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:40 AM

    Where was the authorities when 100 KM road was put up? well done minister. This is the way to build your popularity

    unchikun Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:42 AM

    Kick the tippes out and protect our wildlife.

    Asoka Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:43 AM

    This Bathiudeen guy will get his day soon...

    unchikun Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:44 AM

    I am a bit suspicious, could this be the result of carpet bombing during the war?

    Ando Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:50 AM

    My heart started aching when I looked at the satellite pics. What a destruction!

    samarethunge Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:10 AM

    Why don't they put up photos from 1990 onwards?

    Rate rala Tuesday, 13 May 2014 09:58 AM

    Yes sir, it is

    roshan Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:08 AM

    i agree..!!!!

    and before 1989 august where people are displaced ..!!!

    oh..no...NO technology is accessible ne..!!!

    Apsara Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:09 AM

    Where all these Environmentalists have gone when the expressways, underground powerstations were constructed with causing several environmental destructions.

    GAMINI Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:10 AM

    Bulldozed archaeological sites earlier, now forest reserves. Soon SL will become a DESERT.

    Minan Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:15 AM

    Why you are talking about Muslim world when one minister of this community does a mistake

    Sanjeewa1 Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:27 AM

    We need to see satellite photos from 90s. Until 100Km road constructed the environmentalist, authorities were watching cricket? Don't talk bullshit!!!!. We know who you are!!!

    AJ Tuesday, 13 May 2014 10:54 AM

    Must arrest this badudin.

    Prometheus Tuesday, 13 May 2014 11:07 AM

    Bombs, shells, missiles, rockets leave a certain pattern/signature of destruction which is different from activity such as excavation. Simple way to check is look at Google Earth (or Digital Globe) and compare photos from 2006 to 2013. If this was due to bombing then there should be no change after the war ended in 2009.

    Ranjith Silvar Tuesday, 13 May 2014 11:12 AM

    What is Mahaa Raala doing?

    Hetti Tuesday, 13 May 2014 11:44 AM

    How much was paid by BBS for these environmental associations to publish this report ?

    HellWelcomes Tuesday, 13 May 2014 11:46 AM

    Ideal place for practical training. BBS, Please be more vigilant


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