Sunil Vijayapala Australia

We appeal to the President of Sri Lanka to bring in the following Resolutions in the Parliament for a permanent solution to protect Sinharaja for present and future generations.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Immediately hand over all land belonging to Land Reform Commission(LRC) in the vicinity of Sinharaja and around the perimeter to Forestry Department as per cabinet paper PS/ CS/26/2004 of July 22, 2004, which states that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”the Forest Department was allowed to acquire forests within the radius of 500 meters from the Sinharaja boundaryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dissolve LRC immediately as this institution has being detrimental in its operations throughout its history in Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Relocate all villagers who are engaged in fishing, including dynamite fishing, tea and vegetable growing near the vicinity of Sinharaja, to other settlements including Mahaveli Settlements, to nullify the requirements of access from Sabaragamuwa Province to Southern Province.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Bar all foreigners in conducting research in Sinharaja in the pretext of Conservation who are actually engaged in Bio-piracy to protect our endemic species of fauna and flora from exploitation. Allow only local scientists to conduct research in Sinharaja forest. All foreigners who enter Sinharaja to be closely monitored and supervised by officials of Forestry department.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ No permits to be approved by the State of Provincial Governments to build hotels or any other structure or roads within Sinharaja, near Sinharaja or its precincts. Knuckles Range too should be included.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The younger generation of Sri Lankan expats who have never seen or heard of Sinharaja, and young locals and foreigners who may have just heard of Sinharaja, who have signed the petition to safeguard Sinharaja shows the keen interest they take when it comes to worldly environmental issues and their commitment to save the planet. We should salute them and thank them.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sunil Vijayapala

Australia

29 Aug 2011