UNP Deputy Leader writes to Conservator-General of Forests

Deputy Leader of the UNP, Ruwan Wijewardena, has sent a letter (through his attorney) to the Conservator-General of Forests regarding the proposed development project in Sinharaja.

"We have been instructed by our client that according to media reports the proposed Ging Nilwala Diversion project or part of the said project entails inter alia the deforestation and/ or destruction of certain forest areas of the Sinharaja project," the letter of Mr. Wijewardene's attorney said in its letter.

We are instructed that our client understands that the said forest area are areas that are protected by the law, notably in terms of inter alia the National Heritage Wilderness Areas Act No 3 of 1988 and in terms of Forests Conservation Ordinance No 16 of 1990. We are instructed that the State also has a duty to protect such forest areas in terms our international treaty obligations. In these circumstances, we are instructed to state that this course of action is inter alia unlawful and/ or wrongful and will have serious ramification inter aila to the ecosystem, environment and the country as a whole. Furthermore we are instructed that each action is inter alia arbitrary and/ or unreasonable and / or disproportionate," the letter added.

He has requested a meeting with the Conservator-General of Forests prior to any decision being taken in regards this project.(Yohan Perera)