False info being spread on environmental destruction : PMD

COLOMBO (News1st): False information is being propagated on environmental destruction in the country since the new government came into power, the President's Media Division (PMD) has said. Issuing a statement, the PMD claimed that false reports are being published alleging that forest reserves are being set on fire and that deforestation is taking place. It added that these media reports imply that such level of deforestation never took place before and that the government is remaining silent in the face of these illegal acts. The PMD said that it was observed such reports are fabricated and contain false information. According to the PMD, false reports on such environmental destruction are propagated via social media as well as print and electronic media. It added that such false reports had been removed from social media after it was proven that they contained fabricated information. The PMD noted that opposition forces and their supporters have given high publicity to these reports by emphasising on them during media briefings and other events. According to the statement, a private TV institution had published a false report on September 15, alleging that environmental destruction is taking place in Anuradhapura in relation to the refurbishment of the Ihalathalawa wewa in the Mahaweli H Zone. "The news report claims that large scale corruption is also taking place in addition to environmental destruction," the statement issued on Monday read. It added that the Project Manager in the Mahaweli H Zone had "submitted proof" to the director-general of the Mahaweli Authority rejecting the media report. It insisted that necessary approval had been obtained to remove 80 maara trees as part of the project. The PMD noted that a private media outlet had alleged that massive deforestation had been taking place, and had failed to provide accurate information to support its claims. It added that the government will identify groups and individuals who purposely fabricate false news with the intention of misleading the public and take legal action against them.