21 December 2024 12:00 am Views - 12
By Nelson Piyaratne
About 200 trees, including Satin, Margosa, Palu, and Weera, have been felled at Galara in Tissamaharama, which is adjacent to Yala National Park, according to the Lunugamvehera Wildlife Conservation Office. The raid was conducted based on a tip-off given by local residents.
In addition, another plot of land, approximately 100 acres in extent, has been completely cleared, and a fence about 15 feet high has been erected to protect it from wild elephants.
Residents of the area said after felling trees land would be sold by these racketeers to people from other areas for prices between Rs.3 million and Rs 4 million per acre.
Wildlife officers have produced the timber before the courts but no suspects have been arrested yet.
Beat Forest officer Tharaka Samarasinghe said necessary action would be taken to obtain an order prohibiting entering into this land and the suspects would be arrested soon.