25 August 2023 09:29 am Views - 272
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
With the prevailing dry weather conditions in Sri Lanka, authorities have noticed an increase in forest fires. This is evident with the number of forest fire incidents reported recently, amounting to 123.
This was revealed during a discussion held at the office of the State Minister of Defence on the increase in forest fires and preventive measures to control the issue.
State Defence Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said, that due to the prevailing dry weather, a large number of fires have been reported in forest reserves and plantations and that in comparison with 78 forest fires reported last year, this year already 123 forest fires.
The State Minister said that with the prevailing dry weather, forest fire incidents have increased due to deliberate or careless human activities and such actions are also likely to occur due to camping groups.
Therefore, he said that everyone should pay more attention to taking preemptive measures to prevent such destruction of forests.
He said the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Armed Forces, Fire Brigades, District and the Divisional Secretariats, Wildlife Department and the Forest Conservation Department have made great efforts in the last few days to suppress forest fires caused due to the prevailing dry weather conditions.
He also said that arrangements have been made to delegate a number of monitoring activities to the DMC, Wildlife Department, Forest Conservation Department, Plantation Industry and the Ports Authority and also special requests have been made to the Forest Conservation Department and Wildlife Department to control this situation, especially in highly sensitive areas and that the DMC and Ministry of Defence have discussed on how support could be extended towards this.
He said a special programme will also be implemented to create fire belts in the next few days, and that they have taken steps to start a special programme for training of armed forces and CSD personnel by the Fire Brigade.