Protest to protect environment held in Colombo

COLOMBO (News1st): The United Environmental Front held a protest opposite the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo opposing environmental destruction. "I have visited those areas, and seen with my eyes that more than 1000 acres of land have been destroyed," Hemantha Vithanage, the Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice said. He pointed out that conserving forests are important for the future generations of the country. Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero, another environmentalist, pointed out that 200 ecological systems including forest reserves, national parks, natural reserve parks and forest lands have been destroyed. "62,000 Acres of natural reserve parks and forest lands have been destroyed," the President of the  Surakimu Sri Lanka Organization said.