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Extensive damage to the ecosystem Wanathawilluwa mangroves illegally cleared by racketeers
Extensive tracts of this ecosystem have been destroyed by racketeers
By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Wanton destruction of the mangrove forest along the Redd Barna lagoon periphery in Wanathawilluwa division has been going on unabated, despite concerns raised by residents and environmentalists. According to environmentalists, vast tracts of century-old mangrove forest have been cleared, causing extensive damage to the ecosystem. The destruction has been done cleverly, leaving those mangroves facing the lagoon intact, so that anyone looking from there will not see the destruction carried out inside.
This destruction is related to the businesses of prawn farms and salterns.
This ecosystem boasts of thirteen of the twenty one varieties of mangroves found in Sri Lanka. Environmentalists say that the destruction done here is particularly grave at a time when so much international attention is focused on our mangrove systems.
Residents say that lack of attention paid by Wildlife officials is the main reason why racketeers have been able to create such havoc.
Residents also claim that, after destroying the mangroves, the racketeers bury all evidence of the destruction.
As National People’s Power MP for Puttalama Ajith Gihan put it after visiting the area to assess the destruction: “We shall not hesitate to take strong action against those responsible. We see this ecosystem as very much part of our lives. Therefore, we inform the police and other relevant authorities to find the culprits and take action against them.
“We have protested against such destruction all along in the past. Therefore, it is a grave situation if such things are still happening. That’s why we want to inform everyone – don’t touch this mangrove system from now on, do everything you can to protect it instead.”
The Wanathawilluwa police said a police team is investigating, and has started looking for those responsible.
MP Ajith Gihan inspects the damage
Some of the destroyed mangroves
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