A land of about 100 acres belonging to the Somawathiya National Forest has been bulldozed down,
revealed Keerthi Chandraratne, Assistant Director of Wildlife in charge of Polonnaruwa region.
The said land was leased to a famous rice miller in Polonnaruwa about a month ago, through Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.
Chandraratne added, that the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has no authority to lease out these lands in which the Elephant Pass leading to Somawathiya is embodied. Elephants living in Maduru Oya and Flood Valley parks are crossing this pass, he revealed.
That being said, steps will be taken to immediately prevent this illegal activity and legal actions will be taken against the parties involved, Chandraratne further added.
Lanka News Web