Colombo (News 1st);  Venerable Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero, a conservation activist, alleged meetings are taking place at ministry level to do away with circular 05/2001 which places forest land countywide under the care of Divisional Secretaries and District Secretaries.

“500,000 hectares of forest land in Sri Lanka are protected by circular 05/2001,” said the Venerable Thero adding the Minister of Land and the Secretary to the Ministry of Lands are exerting pressure on authorities to abolish this circular.

Venerable Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero said an attempt is being made hand-over forest lands to various entities, and the instructions to do away with the important circular is one such attempt.

He went on to note forest land in Sri Lanka is to be sold-off to multi-national companies citing the land requirements for Sri Lankan agricultural purposes and housing needs.

The Venerable Thero said this move is in direct contradiction to the President’s vision to increase the national forest cover to 30%.

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