Clearing elephant corridor to build hotel untrue: Forest Dept.

While condemning the media reports, the Forest Conservation Department (FCD) said that there was no truth behind clearing an elephant corridor in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve for the construction of a hotel.

While issuing a report, the Department said the claimed hotel construction takes place 3.5 to 5 km air distance away from the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. 

"This land area was situated outside of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and it was announced clearly in 2019 and the land area was a personal property - an abandoned tea estate, situated close proximity to the Pothupitiya-Rakwana road. This land has three houses constructed in it with permission duly obtained from the respective Pradeshiya Sabha," the Department said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)