Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the government in parliament about the steps it has taken against the destruction of the RAMSAR wetland and protected sanctuary Anawilundawa recently. Around one hectare of the wetland’s mangrove area was illegally destroyed to make way for a shrimp farm. Premadasa questioned if the government has arrested those who advised and supported the destruction of the area and what legal action has it taken, as well as its progress. Premadasa requested that the parliament be updated on the matter.
Following is the full statement made by Sajith Premamadasa in Parliament under Standing Order 27 (2) on Environmental and Natural Resources.
“Protecting the environment and natural resources is a primary responsibility of a country’s government. The protection and development of the environment by the Government for the benefit of the people is enshrined in Article 27 (14) of the Constitution under the Principles and Basic Duties of Directing Public Policy.
However, as soon as the present government came into power, it took action to revoke the license required for sand transportation, which created a serious controversy. Also, with the commencement of the reconstruction work on the road to Lankagama, which borders the Sinharaja forest, the discussion on environmental destruction has resurfaced.
Meanwhile, another large scale environmental disaster was reported from Puttalam recently. The tragedy is that about two acres of land in the Anavilundawa Sanctuary in the Arachchikattuwa area in the Puttalam District have been bulldozed for shrimp farming and its ecosystem destroyed.
According to environmentalists, this is a very sensitive ecological zone that is rich in local and foreign migratory birds as well as rare species of fish and butterflies. The region also has a rare mangrove ecosystem and reservoir system. Sri Lanka was included in the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the World’s Rare and Biodiversity Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran, and accordingly, the Anavilundawa Sanctuary was declared a Ramsar Wetland in 2001. Also, this area is a sanctuary declared under the Fauna and Flora Ordinance. Admittedly, allowing such ecosystems to perish is a serious crime. In the last few days, it has been reported in the media that the brother of a powerful politician is involved in this crime and as a result, the implementation of the law is being delayed.
As this is an urgent matter of national importance, I expect answers and explanations from the Government for the following questions”.
1) The Ramsar Wetland, which is also internationally protected, is not only a sanctuary declared under the Wildlife and Flora Ordinance but also a highly sensitive and biodiversity-rich ecosystem. Does the government recognize that the failure to take action is a serious weakness of the government? If not, what are the reasons?
2) Has the government taken steps to arrest and prosecute those who provided advice as well as aiding and abetting this crime? Will the Government take steps to inform this House of the progress of the legal action taken by the relevant institutions in relation to this crime?
3) Has the report of the committee appointed by the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation been submitted to investigate this crime? Will it be presented to this House? If not, when is it expected to be presented?
4) Has the government taken steps to prevent such serious environmental crimes in the future? If so, what action will be taken should be informed to this House.
