It is the duty of officials to take action against any acts of deforestation - President

COLOMBO(News1st): The 14th edition of the Gama Samaga Pilisandarak program was held in Galle today. This was the first program of the Gama Samaga Pilisandarak program held in the Southern Province. The program was held in the Galaboda North Gama Seva division falling under the purview of the Hikkaduwa and Rathgama Divisional Secretariats. “There are allegations that we are destroying the environment at a massive scale,” President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said speaking at the event. “I got a request to look into this issue of lands that have been cultivated on for generations and to provide a practical solution to it. That does not mean go and start cutting down trees in forests” he added. He went on to note that it is the duty of officials to take action against any acts of deforestation taking place in the country.