Illegal land grab attempts put Hanthana Mountain Range at risk

A portion of the land was also set on fire.

Amith Senanayake from the Hanthana Environmental Protection Area Management Committee said an organized group is setting the forest on fire in an attempt to commit land grab, adding according to the Gazette Notification on the Hanthana Environmental Protection Area (Gazette Notification No. 1641/28 of 17th February 2010), the Central Environmental Authority is vested with control over the area.

The Hanthana Environmental Protection Area Management Committee member slammed the CEA for failing to take necessary action despite having the power to regulate and manage the area.

" The Janatha Estates Development Board and the Land Reforms Commission are disposing lands from their portfolios in an irresponsible manner resulting in the forest destruction," claimed activists.

In addition, activists have called on the authorities to strictly enforce the law against the perpetrators.