Centuries-old trees gutted

Hundreds of centuries-old trees, including giant Kumbuk trees, have been felled and burned in Wanathawilluwa in the Puttalam district, environmentalists have charged. 

This wanton destruction has been caused by owners of paddy lands in the Parana-Eluwankulama and Thawusamaduwa areas to prevent wild animals from entering the fields, environmentalists said.

The field in the Parana-Eluwankulama Grama Niladhari division belonging to the Wanathawilluwa Divisional Secretariat is said to span over 500 acres.

According to environmentalists, farmers are setting fire to centuries-old Kumbuk, Mee, Kon and Banyan trees located in their fields.

The fields are located near the Wilpattu National Park, and birds from the forest lay eggs on the branches of these huge trees. But this can no longer happen due to their destruction.

Environmentalists add a part of this field is not even legally owned yet.

Puttalam district Agrarian Services Deputy Commissioner Palitha Senadheera said nobody could legally set fire to trees in a paddy field, or anywhere else. “I will look into this matter immediately,” he pledged.

Wanathawilluwa Divisional Secretary Chathuraka Jayasinghe said Kumbuk trees could not be destroyed without prior approval from the environmental committee.

Puttalam Divisional Irrigation Engineer Dileepa Hettiarachchi said he was also informed about the incident. “Once a Kumbuk tree near Nelum Wewa which supplies water to these fields was set on fire. I warned them about it,” he said. “We will investigate this matter again, and we will not allow anyone to destroy this ecosystem,” he added.