Allowing people to use traditional farmlands not permission to destroy forests: Prez

20 February 2021 08:59 pm - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today that allowing the villagers to use their traditional farmlands uninterrupted does not mean that it was a permission given to destroy forests.

He said this participating in the ‘Gama Samaga Pilisadara” programme in Karuwalagaswewa in Puttalam District.

The President said some people had misunderstood what he said in ‘Gama Samaga Pilisadara” programmes and added that he had only instructed to allow people to cultivate traditional lands that the people had been cultivating for years.

“I talked about land issues in almost everywhere I went. What I said has been misunderstood. In some places, farmlands in boundaries to the forest department lands where the people have been cultivating for years have been earmarked by the forest department wrongly as forest lands. It can happen when lands are earmarked by using google maps. We discussed this issue and decided to allow people to cultivate these wrongly marked boundary farmlands. If people clear forest lands, it is up to the officials to stop such acts,” he said.

He said social media was prepared to spread false news and sabotage these programmes.

Comments - 12

Mm Saturday, 20 February 2021 10:30 PM

Traditional farm lands that were neglected for years have become part and parcel of forests and animal corridors and habitats!!! Best is to STOP allowing people clear lands as they please! This got aggravated because of your statement about cultivating land. People don’t know where to stop!!! After creeping into animal territory they shout and fuss blaming elephants and other wild life

MN Saturday, 20 February 2021 10:32 PM

Either you pass the order without ambiguity or use proper tool to identify culprits out of true farmers, anyway this indicates lawlessness of the country

Peacemaker Saturday, 20 February 2021 10:34 PM

Piece of Shit..

Ups Saturday, 20 February 2021 10:38 PM

This leniency of prez, leads provincial level pohottu supporters to grab government lands according to their whims and fancies

Buddhist Saturday, 20 February 2021 11:04 PM

When rest of the world is trying to find ways of increasing forest cover, even to allow forests which have grown in traditional farm lands to be destroyed is a crime. What about traditional farm lands in the North and East occupied by Army?

Nomads Saturday, 20 February 2021 11:17 PM

More lands for sale . Motive is to Run the country selling own backyard till end of time

Kingsley Wijesinhe Sunday, 21 February 2021 10:37 AM

The President doesn't seem to be living in the real world. What he meant may be one thing, but what is happening is something else. The people who are using bulldozers to clear forest land are not traditional farmers trying to reclaim their land. They are mudalalis with political backing.

J Ranu Sunday, 21 February 2021 10:42 AM

So I guess it's our fault now. We must have cleared all those forests, certainly not your henchmen. Lying piece of shit.

warren Sunday, 21 February 2021 01:18 PM

Hey guys, Here comes another "Sir Ku Law"...

vince Sunday, 21 February 2021 11:52 PM

NAndasena should look in his backyard. It is his people and hangers-on who are destroying the ecosystem in this country.

Kadiya Monday, 22 February 2021 07:07 AM

Whom are you trying to fool?

Meeminna Monday, 22 February 2021 07:21 AM

Isn't it the same thing, Mr. President? Chena cultivaton is a cas e in point!

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Allowing people to use traditional farmlands not permission to destroy forests: Prez

Comments - 12

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