The Rape of world heritage Sinharaja Rain Forest continues.-One Notorious Politico-Mafia Gang related with Sri Lanka’s Ruling Government is accused of this crime.
Posted on September 14th, 2011
-Sumal
-13 September 2011
It is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ common to hear nowadays thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ the virgin forests are being cleared for the development works. Entire communities of Animal species and native tribes had beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ wiped out forever. But, such a crime has even been justified by the certain ruling political elites, perhaps bringing the Political ethics down to most low levels. Of course, notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ something civilized, but a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ combined policy ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ conquest and plunder which machinating with the violence and corruption. Such aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ miserable policy, even that Lucifer ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Machiavelli would have fallen to theorize ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ during his Dark medieval age.
Sinharaja ForestƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s enormous biological value and its role of climatic regulationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and water catchment are well known. Apart from those the Sinharaja Forest holds upmost status, a historic-cultural entity within the collective conscience ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s native Sinhalese people. Since very ancient times Sinhalese believe thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ this forest with name ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SinharajaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, of course the forest of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lion King is sacredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and it has been blessed by the God Sumana Saman, then was worshiped along with the adjunct Sri Pada Adaviya forest. Both of these forests together had formed moreƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ than 1,20 000 Hectares of unique virgin jungle block.
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However, after the arrival of western colonialists, these virgin forest lands were cleared for Coffee and Tea Plantations. But even during that time, the actual core section ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sinharaja Remained almost intact. But it was in 1970s the Parts of Sinharaja had been leased out for commercial logging by then ruling government. But environmental loving masses valiantly protested against that act and newly elected government had stopped all the logging works and legalised Sinharaja under Highly ProtectedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Forest status in 1977.
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But now, Sinharaja is under a grave danger than ever. With the support of Government, notorious local politico mafia gang is constructing a road bisecting the protected rain forest.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is well acknowledged ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this act is being carried out with the directorate of ParliamentarianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s President son Namal Rajapakse to fulfill the lucrative interests of an Eco-tourist network in where the Politicians are the main stakeholders.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was in 27th July 2011; the parliamentarian Janaka Wakkumbura started the construction work. But the works have soon been stopped due to protests of Environmentalists and it must be noted also the pressure made through the UNESCO hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ led Government politicians to re-consider the decision of road construction.
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Then few weeks passed . But as usual, Mafia men are the manipulators .They are able to getƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What they want by ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ any mean. So it was. Firstly, they instigated some local villagers and paid ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thugs to make a protest at Pothupitiya town demanding immediate construction of the road. Parallel to that, lackeys of politico-mafia men were involvedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in rallyingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the villagers at ILumbekanda numbering about 300 laborer force toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ recommence the road construction that has immediately been taken place few days ago. Also Backhoe Heavy machinery have been used to cut the road.
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During this roadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ construction no external person has been allowed to enter the area . Even the Sri Lanka Forest department officials went there for an investigation have been chased away by thugs led by local Mafia Politicians. ThenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ FD officials have complained to Police. But Police has failed to provide protection to FD officers, thereafterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ FD officers were forced to abandon the location..
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It is a shame and disgraceful that relative Government institutions keep silent on this matter. And not only , some officialsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have fallen such a low thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ they also justified this Crime saying this road construction is not illegal hence this road existed since a long time. Yes this road had existed. But as a footpath. Only a small section of Sooriyakanda direction that once ran across a tea estate (now abandoned) was ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sealed with some stones. And, all the rest of road was a simple foot path through the dense jungle. There were no recorded privately owned lands beside this foot path and there were only some casual chena cultivations in random locations. But they too been abandoned withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the time. And this part of the forest has been declared to annex to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinharaja highlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ protected Forest network by a special cabinet order in 2004. But due to bureaucratic stalling that process gone belated. Even the proposed Management plans were undone ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and now these mafia men are constructing the way across the protected forest and will ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forcefully grab the adjoin lands for their lucrative activities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
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Boiling blood, ashes and smoking bones scattered. Cheering Political Mafia men apart privileged. Cries of featherless infant wild birds and Bowls of mother earth removed. This is not the DanteƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s inferno, but the Sri Lanka once a Paradise, now transformed into a brutish and Hellish killing field of environmental destruction.
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At the momentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ my article ends, and It is sure ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ also thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ road constructionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ would be Completed . With that, aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ piece from Our Sinhalese national pride will be removed and goneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forever. What could you expect from a dormant nation made-up with morally handicappedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ people and en-route toward their own extinction?
September 14th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
I hope this matter will not be politicised by third class UNderworld P* losers who are seeking to get at the government and the people. This crime should be stopped without benefiting the UNderworld P* losers.
This is not development, but destruction. It must be stopped. Why aren’t the Maha Sangha taking up the matter?
We can’t turn the Sinharaja to another Hikkaduwa or a Muthurajawela.
September 15th, 2011 at 2:36 am
It is sad to see our forrests destroyed. I have seen in most areas in Lanka, green areas replaced by concrete buildings. Population control is essential. People also need to visit our heritage sites such as A’Pura and also up country to realise, how much of our living space has been lost. Probably tine to wake up, stand up and be counted.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:05 am
The article indicated by Deepal indeed tell a sad story. Looks like Lanka is sold to foreigners, who will suck every thing we have and spit us out. No one seems to care. Most still praying for Nirvana to escape suffering and may not wake up ntil the whole of Lanka is lost as happened to Nalanda Buddhists.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:08 am
Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has ordered to stop the road construction from Imbulkanda to Suriyakanda across the Sinharaja Reserve until he returns. The Minister is currently participating the UNHRC sessions in Geneva.
According to Environmentalists, the proposed road would affect the Bio diversity of the Forest reserve causing genetic changes to the Endemic Fauna and Flora.
adaderana.lk
September 15th, 2011 at 5:44 am
I would like to add that published literature indicate that those working in banana plantations have a high incidence of prostrate cancer due to the chemical used in the industry. The poorest in the Sinhala society will get prostrate cancer, whilst the foreignors and their local partners will get rich. I have mentioned many times we need to dump mind virus and start thinking straight. No body cares about the people in NCP. Now we will have one more group.
September 16th, 2011 at 5:03 am
Destruction of forests and introduction of Banana plantations could introduce cancer clusters to srI lANKA, due to the pesticides and fertiliser used. I wish to draw this to the attention of Sumal, who could hopefully write some articles. DOLE has links with cancer clusters. This would bring disaster to local poor people and make foreigners and their supporters rich.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:09 am
Going further into foreign business investments in Sri Lanka : have Laws and other protective measures been put in place to protect the environment & people in the business and surrounds ? Foreign businesses will be interested in quick profits and cheap labor – that is the way business is run (no Buddhist “Small is Beautiful” here !). But, it is up to GoSL to have protective measures in place.
Here is an account of India’s Bhopal tragedy which happened in 1984 through Union Carbide of USA :
“The Bhopal disaster also known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy was one of the world’s worst industrial catastrophes. It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.[1] Others estimate 3,000 died within weeks and another 8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.[2][3] A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries”. About US $470 Million has been as compensation to the survivors and families of victims by UC through the Govt. of India. Was it worth it, we wonder …..
Better safe than sorry. Put those safety Laws in place first.
September 17th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Why do the people not understand that it is the place they LIVE in that they keep destroying? Life will never be the same when our kids or our grand kids have nothing except death and destruction to look forward to. Will you guys be interested in speaking to someone of power face to face to get help inorder to stop these * from destroyin many living beings? That would be better help than writing articles for people who will read them, be sad and forget about it dont you think?
September 17th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Farah, you made a good point. People need to stand up and be counted. Population explosion also need tobe controlled. Population explosion creates demand for resources and the destruction of green areas.
September 18th, 2011 at 7:29 am
Perhaps the proposed Senate or Second Tier should be composed only of Scientists & technical people who can guide our Parliament to safety regulations and safe investments.
As in the rest of the world, Job Creation should be a priority of the GoSL. Of course, first with Safety Laws & Regulations in place re People & the Environment. There is no other way to avoid future catastrophes. Everyone will suffer if Safety Laws & Regulations are not put in place first – don’t just see the $$$ and the Jobs only. Think long term. We need cool heads to safely arrive at common goals thought out carefully before foreign investments are brought in.
Haphazard growth will become a nightmare. Where are the Think Tanks for Lanka ?
September 18th, 2011 at 7:41 am
All foreign investments must be evaluated by the Environmental Authority for environmental impacts. We can learn from the Union Carbide incident at Bhopal in India to ensure that such occurrences do not happen in Sri Lanka. We must make sure Environmental Authority will NOT become an authority like the FDA in USA where the drug companies are allowed to release improperly tested drugs on the basis of financial considerations. There will have to be checks are balances including approval by the Scientific Organizations in Sri Lanka such as the CISIR, the Engineers Association etc. in addition to the Environmental Authority.
Land should never be sold outright to Foreign investors. It should only be leased. Sri Lanka has a land shortage since 3/4 of the population in one quarter of the tiny 25,000 sq.mile island. There is not enough land for the people as it is. There is also a movement by the LTTE diaspora to achieve a land grab which they failed to achieve by military effort, by buying the land from poor Sinhala peasants. Some of our politicians are ever ready to comply so long as they retain their power and get some money.