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Wednesday, 13 May 2015 01:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From left: Environmental Organization Collective Representative Bandula Babaranda, Centre for Environmental Justice Executive Director Hemantha Vithanage, JVP MP K.D. Lalkantha, Environmental Conservation Trust Director Sajeewa Chamikara – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara
By Chamodi Gunawardana
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday said that they would urge the Government to create an Environmental Crimes Investigation Division to investigate environmental crimes that took place during the rule of the previous regime.
JVP Politburo member K.D. Lal Kantha stated that the Government should conduct a proper investigation on the North Wilpattu sanctuary deforestation incident.
“During the past regime many forests and lands were destroyed due to various development projects. Now it has affected the Wilpattu sanctuary too. However, 5000 hectares have faced deforestation,” Lal Kantha expressed.
“Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, the Secretary of the Environment Ministry, Forest Conservation Department Chairman, Mannar Divisional Secretary, Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and the Pradeshiya Saba Secretary who are involved in the Wilpattu deforestation incident made false statements to us when we asked them about this issue and tried to cover up their crimes. However, it is clear that these lands are not suitable for resettlement,” Lal Kantha explained.Speaking further, Lal Kantha said that Sri Lanka needed a new national policy to guarantee environmental protection. “Through this new policy, the Government should decide which lands should be allocated for resettlement and which lands should be reserved for cultivation. However, now the only thing left for us to do is to take to the streets against deforestation,” Lal Kantha mentioned.
JVP member K.D Lal Kantha said yesterday that the JVP had handed over their proposals to President Sirisena regarding reforms to the 20th Amendment.
“We have made some proposals regarding the first-past-the-post system and the preferential system. But we have not made any proposals regarding the numbers of MPs that should be appointed through the election,” Lal Kantha expressed.
