Protest against charcoal factories

People of the Arambekema village in Thanamalvila staged a protest today on the Hambegamuwa road against the charcoal manufacturing factories adjoining their village. The protestors claimed that they were unable to go into the woods even to collect firewood since government officials had permitted several Chinese persons to cut down large trees for charcoal manufacturing. The charcoal factory is run by Chinese nationals along the Rangakumbura road in Arambekema village within the Kahakurullanpalassa Grama Niladhari Ddivision of the Thanamalvila Divisional Secretariat in the Moneragala District. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe