JVP claims Govt. clearing forest reserves for solar power plant

By Skandha Gunasekara

The JVP in Parliament yesterday charged that the Government had allowed the construction of solar power plants within protected forest reserves.

JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake said that he had received petitions from environmentalists claiming that the Government had permitted four companies, including Iris Eco Power Lanka Ltd., and Anorchi Lanka Ltd. to clear 400 acres of forest in in Buruthakanda and Tissapura forest reserves to build solar power plants.

“Another 300 acres in Divulpelassa and Walsapugala have been cleared as well. Apart from these, a senior army officer Oliver Ranasinghe has had 60 hectares released from forest reserves through various influential persons. Forty hectares out of the 60 have been transferred to Seneca Company. Ranasinghe has built a solar power plant using 20 hectares, near Sagar Solar power plant in Buruthankanda. These are clear violations of the National Environment Act,” Rathnayake alleged.

The JVP MP made these allegations while taking part in yesterday’s debate on seven Orders under the National Environmental Act.

Responding to the allegations, State Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Ajith P. Perera requested MP Rathnayake to forward copies of the petitions made by the environmentalists so that his Ministry could conduct an investigation.

The Minister asserted that the four companies mentioned by MP Rathnayake have no license to operate in Sri Lanka.

“It is not true that the Government has given 600 acres to build solar power plants like MP Rathnayake claims. Oliver Ranasinghe and Seneca Company have licenses, but there are questions about their legal validity. I request Rathnayake to forward the petitions of the environmentalists so I can launch an investigation. There is a possibility that the said 600 acres are being cleared for a malicious purpose by implying that the land is for solar power plants,” the State Minister said.