Residents protest destruction of Muthurajawela wetland

By P. H. P. Perera and Sarath Chinthaka   

Residents of the area staged a protest yesterday in Ja- Ela town against the clearing and filling of 700 acres of the Muthurajawela wetland to construct a golf course and several other buildings. The environmental organisation to protect Muthurajawela wetland “ Surakimu Muthurajawela “ had organised the protest.   

They said that several private sector companies receiving state patronage were clearing and filling the highly sensitive environmental zone. They accused the government of causing wanton destruction to highly sensitive environmental zones and forest cover although it came to power on the promise of protecting the environment.   

 They pointed out that the public officers had been compelled to permit the private sector companies to destroy Muthurajawela wetland in this manner at the instigation of politicians in power.   

Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath, Former Provincial Council Member Mahinda Jayasinghe and several local politicians had joined the protest.