Update : Arachchikattuwa Police arrested a man suspected of operating the bulldozer used to destroy a section of the Anavilundawa Ramsar Wetlands : Police
Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C.B. Ratnayake has instructed legal action to be taken against the individuals involved in illegally clearing a portion of the Ramsar wetlands in Anawilundawa in Puttalam.
An unidentified group is reported to have cleared nearly 0.697 hectares of the wetlands for shrimp farming on Tuesday (25).
Officials from the Department of Wildlife Conservation were reported on the incident on the following day (26).
A portion of the Ramsar wetlands is said to have been cleared illegal by the individuals during ongoing efforts by the Department of Forest Conservation to restore mangroves in the area.
The Department of Forest Conservation and other relevant Government Departments have clarified that approval was not granted for the shrimp farm.
As preliminary steps, Wildlife Department officials have presented facts to the Chilaw Magistrate’s Court in this regard.
The Wildlife Department together with the Police are conducting investigations to trace the individuals involved in the incident and to seize the equipment used to clear a portion of the wetlands.
The move has caused public outrage as the cleared land is of national importance as per the Ramsar Convention signed by 21 states, including Sri Lanka, in 1971.
Further, area residents suspect the involvement of a politician in the destruction of the wetlands.
Earlier, commenting on the incident, State Minister of Rural and Regional Drinking Water Supply Projects said the issuance of permits and lands for shrimp farming has been suspended.
Meanwhile, Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa said the public have not given a two-thirds majority to the Government to destroy the environment. (Newswire)