Wildlife officers attached to eight trade unions have launched an islandwide token strike today (27). Writing to their members yesterday the unions had requested them to report sick in protest of the actions of State Minister of Wildlife Wimalaweera Dissanayake.
The protesting Wildlife officers have accused the Minister of attempting to construct a road through the Flood Plains National Park in Polonnaruwa, and to also allocate land for farming and cattle to graze within the National Park.
The Wildlife officers in the area were seen objecting to the moves during a discussion with the State Minister Dissanayake in Polonnaruwa yesterday during which the latter was seen verbally abusing the officers. The officers say the Minister is threatening and forcing them to accept his decisions, which are harmful to the environment.
They have said that Wildlife officers will not accept the decisions taken by the State Minister as its implementation will cause wide scale damages to the environment of the National Park.
