Kumbuk felling racket despite rumblings of annoyance

There are several politicians, irrespective of their political party, trying to achieve their selfish desires such as decorating their house floors with Kumbuk trees

An attempt was made recently to fell around 150 Kumbuk trees in Maha Kumbukkadawala Wewa reserve in Kumbukkadawala GN division no 333 in Polpithigama DS

Responsible government officers are unaware of the manner in which trees are felled and what happens to the trunks

Kumbuk is a tree found in the dry zone which lives up to 300 years. The tree has the ability to purify water by reclaiming saline. These trees can be found close to tanks, dams, reservoirs, fields and private lands in the dry zone. One feels cool under the shade of a Kumbuk tree and therefore they can be seen planted on either side of roads in the dry zone. However despite all that shade and comfort promised by these kumbuk trees our investigations have revealed that such trees are being felled with the help of politicians in the Siyambalangamuwa precinct. 

Kumbuk trees are mostly found in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts in the dry zone. Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions under Galgamuwa, Galnewa, Thalawa and Polpithigama Divisional Secretariats-where there are many Kumbuk trees-are identified as areas where these trees are heavily destroyed. Politicians are mainly accused of these destructions. There are several politicians, irrespective of their political party, trying to achieve their selfish desires such as decorating their house floors with Kumbuk trees. They are overwhelmed by the idea of Kumbuk tiles. Their desires never seem to satiate, but grow larger every day.

I informed the authorities about a Kumbuk tree felled 2-3 months ago near Siyambalangamuwa Oya in Siyambalangamuwa reserve, which marks the boundaries between Anuradhapura and Kurunegala, but it was in vain

Lalith Jayarathna, a resident of Siyambalangamuwa

Kumbuk trees around tanks, dams, reservoirs and streams are felled secretly in the said areas to fulfill their wishes. Residents in the area may not see the Kumbuk tree they see today existing the next day. The villagers are unaware as to for whose needs these trees are felled. Lalith Jayarathna, a resident of Siyambalangamuwa, said that even the state officers are not aware why the trees are felled. “I informed the authorities about a Kumbuk tree felled 2-3 months ago near Siyambalangamuwa Oya in Siyambalangamuwa reserve, which marks the boundaries between Anuradhapura and Kurunegala, but it was in vain. Even the villagers living nearby didn’t know of such an incident. After I informed, the Polpithigama Police arrived and took a potion of the tree. To this day, I do not know who cut that tree or for whose needs it was cut. These trees are felled to decorate the houses of bigwigs.” he added. Udaya Kumara, from Siyambalangamuwa, said that earlier Kumbuk trees were felled for the needs of politicians, but today even some officers are cutting trees while accusing politicians. “There was no use of informing the authorities. No one would take the responsibility for that,” he added.

Felling Kumbuk trees is not legal. A Kumbuk tree in a private land can be cut only after officers such as Grama Niladhari, Divisional Secretariat and other government officers give permission by issuing a permit after the tree owner follows the proper inspections. However no person is allowed to cut Kumbuk trees in reservoirs or tanks, dams and streams. GN officers should be aware of such incidents. Siyambalangamuwa GN officer A. M. Thilakarathna said that if the tree is near Siyambalangamuwa Oya it then belongs to Anuradhapura district.

However according to the destruction Jayarathna showed, the area belongs to Siyambalangamuwa Divisional Secretariat. “I did not know whether the tree was located in my division. I was unaware of such an incident. Kumbuk trees are not felled in my division for the purpose of turning out tiles and there are no such people who fell trees for that purpose.” the GN officer said.

Jayarathna shows the markings on Kumbuk trees

Siyambalangamuwa is under Polpithigama Divisional Secretariat and its Divisional Secretary Shantha Dassanayaka said that such an incident was not reported to him. 

“No villager made any complaint as such. If the tree is in a privately owned land permission is given to cut the tree provided that certain procedures are followed. Kumbuk trees in reserves and catchment areas are not allowed to be felled. If a Kumbuk tree falls after decay the GN officer informs me and then hands over the tree to the Timber Corporation. If Kumbuk trees are cut illegally the GN officer, Divisional Secretary, the Forest Department and the Police should take necessary actions. But I have not learnt anything about a Kumbuk tree being felled in Siymbalangamuwa,” Dassanayaka added. When inquiries were made about neem trees being marked in Maha Kumbukkadawala Wewa, an officer of Polpithigama DS denied such an activity taking place and added that development activities in that area are not conducted through Polpithigama DS and she was unaware of marking trees.

If a Kumbuk trees falls after decay the GN officer informs me and then hands over the tree to the Timber Corporation. If Kumbuk trees are cut illegally the GN officer, Divisional Secretary, the Forest Department and the Police should take necessary actions. But I have not learnt anything about a Kumbuk tree being felled in Siymbalangamuwa

Polpithigama Divisional Secretariat Secretary Shantha Dassanayaka

attempts have been made recently to fell around 150 Kumbuk trees in Maha Kumbukkadawala Wewa reserve in Kumbukkadawala GN division no 333 in Polpithigama DS. Many parties were accused of this. Several people planned to cut these trees on the pretext of renovating the Maha Kumbukkadawala Wewa. The trees to be felled were numbered. However they failed to do so in the face of strong opposition. Even though this incident was thought as the end of such attempts made to fell Kumbuk trees in Maha Kumbukkadawala tank, another party is currently eyeing the area for its Kumbuk trees.

Neem trees marked (numbered) in red and located on the tank bund could be observed. Those numbered trees were found in places where Kumbuk trees were located. The Kumbuk trees which were numbered earlier could not be seen as the tree trunks had peeled off. Kumbukkadawala villagers were unaware of who marked the trees. They also did not remember whether the Kumbuk trees were marked before that. If the neem trees were not marked during the time the Kumbuk trees were marked somebody should have marked them later. But no one was aware of it. No information is available as to whether a new development activity is to begin or both Kumbuk and neem trees are to be cut down in the area.

According to the boundaries marked this area comes under purview of the Polpithigama DS. However an officer of the DS said that the area comes under the Galgamuwa DS. There is no Divisional Secretary in Galgamuwa DS at present as the former Secretary was transferred and Ahatuwewa Divisional Secretary is overseeing administrative functions as the Acting Divisional Secretary. The Divisional Secretary and the Kumbukkadawala GN officer should be aware of whether any development activity is taking place in the Kumbukkadawala Wewa reserve in Polpithigama. 

Maha Kumbukkadawela Wewa

Kumbukkadawala GN officer Anura said that he observed the old numbers in Kumbuk trees and not the numbers in neem trees. “I do not know who marked them. I did not see them either. I am unaware of this. The old project will not begin again and I do not know if a new one will begin.” he added.

There was no Divisional Secretary or an Assistant Divisional Secretary in Galgamuwa DS. Assistant Director W. M. B. Dasanayaka, an officer exercising much authority from the Galgamuwa DS, said that the DS and the new Acting Divisional Secretary are unaware of such markings on neem trees and a GN officer of the zone should be contacted for more information.

Environmentalist Nayanaka Ranwella said that an attempt made by a group to fell 150 Kumbuk trees two years ago failed due to the opposition that was exerted. “I did not hear about the remarking of trees, but I will find more about that. Numbers were previously marked on Kumbuk trees and the marking on neem trees should be further discovered.” he added.

Who marked the neem and kumbuk trees?
Kurunegala District Forest Range Officer Lalith Gamage said he was also unaware of such an incident. “I do not know if the Irrigation Department marked the neem trees concurrently with the Kumbuk trees back then. I will not allow anyone to fell any kind of trees in Kumbukkadawala Wewa reserve. I will also not allow any old project or new project in the area. I will immediately look into this matter.” he added.

I do not know if the Irrigation Department marked the neem trees concurrently with the Kumbuk trees back then. I will not allow anyone to fell any kind of trees in Kumbukkadawala Wewa reserve. I will also not allow any old project or new project in the area

Kurunegala District Forest Range Officer Lalith Gamage

An Engineer from the Galgamuwa Divisional Irrigation Office said that the office came under the purview of Maha Siyambalangamuwa Wewa and not Maha Kumbukkadawala Wewa and the irrigation office did not mark numbers on neem trees. 

A spokesperson of Kurunegala District Agrarian Development Office said that numbers were not marked on neem trees by the Agrarian Development Department. 

Jayarathna said that even though a Kumbuk tree in Siyambalangamuwa area was felled and taken to Polpithigama Police, he did not know what had happened afterwards. Polpithigama Police OIC said that he did not remember bringing a Kumbuk tree trunk and will probe the matter. 

I did not hear about the remarking of trees, but I will find more about that. Numbers were previously marked on Kumbuk trees and the marking on neem trees should be further discovered

Environmentalist Nayanaka Ranwella

“I am unaware of any markings made on neem trees in Kumbukkadawala Wewa reserve and no trees will be felled.”, he added.

These stories are beyond belief. The responsible government officers are unaware of the manner in which trees are felled and what happens to the trunks. They are also refusing to take responsibility. If an ordinary citizen felled a Kumbuk tree, legal actions would be taken promptly, but the same would not happen with politicians or several officers engaged in such destruction in the pretext of doing politics. The GN officer, Divisional Secretary, Forest Officers and Agrarian Service Officers being unaware of this incident is even more shocking. Can these officers who weren’t aware until the neem trees were marked, protect these trees let alone the environment? Critics underscore that the fact that Kurunegala District Secretary being unaware of his administrative boundaries should be brought to light as well. Jayarathna said that Maha Kumbukkadawala doesn’t come under Kurunegala district and Siyambalangamuwa comes under the purview of under Galgamuwa DS. 

There are additional government institutes to see if trees are felled illegally close to tanks and reserves. No one is permitted to fell trees illegally in Kurunegala district and Divisional Secretaries have not informed about such incident

Kurunegala District Secretary R. M. R. Rathnayaka

When inquiries were made regarding the absence of an officer to take the responsibility for the said incident in two Divisional Secretariates in Kurunegala, Kurunegala District Secretary R. M. R. Rathnayaka said that Maha Kumbukkadawala does not come under Kurunegala district and that Divisional Secretaries had not informed him about illegal tree felling in Kurunegala district. “There are additional government institutes to see if trees are felled illegally close to tanks and reserves. No one is permitted to fell trees illegally in Kurunegala district and Divisional Secretaries have not informed about such incident. When Kumbuk and other trees are to be cut down near reserves or common areas for special development activities, government institutes take decisions regarding such projects. No illegal tree felling incidents were reported in Kurunegala district. I will investigate and find out whether Kumbuk trees have been cut illegally in Siyambalangamuwa in Galgamuwa DS.” he added.

According to the Kurnegala District Secretary ten Kumbuk trees along with many other trees had been felled for a development activity in Anuradhapura district. These trees have been felled to set high voltage transmission lines to provide electricity along the Hurigas Wewa – Meegalewa road in Galnewa DS in Anuradhapura district. However the villagers said that there is no officer to take responsibility for such activities. These trees on either side of the road have been cut in an area under Mahaweli H zone to provide electricity to one person. Ten Kumbuk trees, rain trees and several other trees have been felled. As the electricity lines have been set on either side of the road, trees on both sides have been destroyed, they added.

Deputy General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board K. S. I. Kumara responding to these allegations said that a high voltage transmission line was erected after the Timber Corporation removed trees on the instructions of Galnewa Divisional Secretary. “As the villagers opposed setting lines over their fields, trees on the road were felled. The CEB did not cut any trees and only set high voltage transmission lines on the request of one person to increase the capacity. I did not witness them being pulled to one side of the road. I only know of the tree felling.” he added.

Galnewa Divisional Secretary, P. L. Senadeera said that those trees were removed through the Timber Corporation on the recommendation of the District Committee after considering the opposition raised by villagers. “Resident Manager of Mahaweli H Zone gave the permission. Another investigation was launched after the Mahaweli Authority opposed the move, but the project was implemented in the end.” she added.

Resident Manager of Mahaweli H zone Sugath Weerasinghe said that this was done on the request of Galnewa Divisional Secretary. “The Divisional Secretary has requested permission to clear way leaves. The Mahaweli authority has then sought recommendations of the Divisional Secretary. Permission had been already sought from all government institutes to fell trees and set electricity lines before my appointment. I launched an investigation after my appointment, but by then the trees had been removed and electricity lines were set up. I did not grant permission even though I continuously received letters requesting to fell more trees to clear the road to extend the project. These trees were planted by the Mahaweli authority and it is sad to see them being felled. Electricity should be provided by other means instead of felling trees.” he added.

A spokesperson for Anuradhapura Office of Timber Corporation said that the trees were removed after all the government institutes had given permission to remove them.