Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) member Pubudu Jagoda says the deforestation operation in the Knuckles mountain range is officially underway.
In a statement on social media, Jagoda said that the Kandy District Secretariat issued a letter in this regard yesterday following discussions with Minister Lal Kantha.
“When Gotabaya was destroying Sinharaja, the justification given was the transport needs of the surrounding villages. This government is saying the same thing; the only difference is the name of the forest and the names of the villages. Ah… even the name of the President in power at the time of deforestation changes,” he said.
His comments come in response to the Kandy District Secretariat’s decision to open a route via the Theldeniya – Thangappuwa Road to Attalavettuwa through the Knuckles Mountain Range.
The route was considered after villagers who had walked 37 km to the Ududumbara Pradeshiya Sabha had informed that 05 Grama Niladhari Divisions in Meemure had been cut off due to the Hunnasgiriya- Meemure Road being blocked due to the disaster situation in the country.
Pointing out that several services, including communication, have been lost as a result, they pointed out that they continue to receive dry food through air, while they are unable to reach medical services during emergencies, and that the residents are facing severe difficulties.
During a discussion between Minister Lal Kantha and the Kandy District Development Committee, the villagers proposed opening the route via the Theldeniya – Thangappuwa Road to Attalavettuwa through the Knuckles Mountain Range for their convenience. (Newswire)
