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Controversy over forest reserve for golf course

11 Nov 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s newest golf course that is to be constructed in Soragune in the Uva Province has caused a major controversy because of claims that the golf course has been planned to be built on a reserved forest land belonging to the Soragune Devale.

Badulla District United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Harin Fernando told a news conference yesterday that the 623 acre land had been sold to a hotel owner in Bali in violation of the Buddhist Temporalities Act.

He charged that some 7,000 farmer families living on this land would lose their livelihood as a result of the project. Some 37 farmer associations and irrigation officials have protested this move. They allege that the Weli Oya project, which was built at a cost of Rs.850 million would be destroyed and the clearing of the forest will dry up the waterways as a result.

Mr. Fernando alleged that one farmer named Wickramapala had been subjected to undue influence by a prominent person in the area to hand over his land to the golf course project.

He asked what would become of the rare fauna and flora and the elephants that inhabit the forest reserve. Mr. Fernando said the move to build the golf course violated the decision made by the Wildlife Ministry which believed that forests should be reserved for elephants to survive.

Mr. Fernando said even government officials in the area were not aware of this sale and that several valuable trees including Burutha, Nilla and Nelli have already been cut down and a road being built for the project. (Yohan Perera)

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Controversy over forest reserve for golf course

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