‘For the wrong acts of previous Govt. we are blamed for deforestation’ – President
When there is a possibility to provide lands from other places for the purpose of resettlement without doing the deforestation, taking narrow decisions the previous government damaged the Wilpattu National Park and today, some section of our society allegedly blames for the present government in this regard, President Maithripala Sirisena said.
He made these observations participating in a ceremony to present appointment letters to 290 Forest Field Assistants held at the Ape Gama premises in Battaramulla, today (4).
The President said that his government will take stern actions to protect the natural resources including the forests.
He further said that as the Minster of Mahaweli Development and Environment ha has planned a three-year national strategy to protect the environment including the forest resource.
Everyone should be committed to fulfill their responsibilities towards protecting Earth’s biodiversity , the President said that adding the new government is working with a plan to increase the country’s forest cover from its existing 29 per cent to 32%.
The President also said that he will take steps to ban the tobacco cultivation fully in the country in 2020 and said that the policy of the present government is to choose only good quality productions for the people’s health and eliminate everything which pose a threat to the health of the public.
The Laws will be strictly imposed against the persons who break the rules on polythene ban, which is effective from 1st of January, 2016, he added.
Secretary Ministry of Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment- Mr. Udaya R. Seneviratne , The Director General of the Forest Conservation and others participated in the event.
(President’s Media)
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Mr. President it is true that deforestation of Wilpattu National Park started during the previous government. It is the duty of the present government to put an immediate holt to this act of insanity.
What is the forestry department doing in Battarmulla?
What is the mahaweli authority doing in Colombo?
The paddy marketing board and the agriculture department b holed in Kandy.
The executives in their air conditioned offices has little else ought to formulate viable policy for they are most likely ought to have data. These guys are nothing more time serving yes men.
If Mr Sirisena means business then they should be given the option of working in areas that would serve the purpose further they must be mde accountable.
In order to achieve accountability they bureaucrats should be devise policies and plan to accommodate these policies. Since these are in their making failure is not option and should face the consequences
In the past members of Parliament were accused of illegal deforestation and was done with the conniving of all the department cpncerne
Yes what is MY3 doing. What are u waiting for take immediate action to correct or halt all wrong doings by the previous leaders. Do something great that the people will remember you like MR did saving our country from the tigers
Stop complaining about MR. He has been away almost a year now