Colombo (News 1st): Opposition Lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the removal of the mandatory requirement of a permit to extract and transport sand and soil, had paved the way for the racketeers to continue illegal operations.

He alleged the Wilpattu National Park was gazetted again by excluding the areas that were cleared.

Speaking in Parliament he said a number of forest lands have been allocated various cultivations.

He referred to the government as Environment Criminals and not Environment Conservationists.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged the government to change its course towards development citing the present path is one that disregards the environment.

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