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| Sunday, 17 February 2002 |
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Wavulpane limestone cave to be declared environmental conservation zone The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council will focus its attention to declare the limestone cave at Wavulpane in Ratnapura considered to be a rare natural phenomenon and the surrounding premises as an environmental conservation zone, Tourism Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, A. B. Weerasekera told Lankapuvath. The ECO system which is full of corals, fossils, quartz and such rock transformations is threatened with destruction owing to human activity. The limestone cave at Wavulpane is 170 metres in length. It is in the form of a limestone tower. The stream of water containing a mixture of lime and iron close to the cave has given rise to a natural phenomenon. Ecologists point out that there are seven species of bats in the area. It is disclosed that visitors kill bats and eat their flesh. The issuing of permits by the Sri Lankan Gems and Jewellery Authority for gem mining in private lands in the site which is thousand metres in extent lying around the limestone cave at Wavulpane has also contributed to environmental destruction. Residents point out that felling trees surrounding the limestone cave and setting fire to scrublands also contribute to environment destruction. The Tourism Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, A. B. Weerasekera focusing attention on conserving discussions with the government. |
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