Wild Life Dept head's resignation causes stir

by the Business Desk

The resignation of Director General (DG) for Wild Life Conservation Department (WLCD), in protest over an incident involving wild life officials has stoked protest and outrage from environment activist groups. However the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe has assured activists that he will discuss the matter with the DG, Sumith Pilapitiya, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Gamini Jayawickrama claimed.

Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya

Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, a leading environmental specialist formerly of the Water Resources and Climate Change Unit of the World Bank tendered his resignation as the Director General of the Wild Life Conservation Department (WLCD) after less than three months in office. Dr. Pilapitiya was appointed WLCD, DG in April. However, his resignation has not been accepted by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife.

His sudden resignation raised many an eyebrow with many unanswered questions as to what would be the future of wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka in the absence of a person of integrity and considerable professional know how.

Resignation

Pilapitiya's resignation has been attributed to a number of factors. The Director General clashed with other officials when he protested against a decision to return captive, privately held, elephants to their owners. He is also said to have been irked by Minister Sajth Premadasa's frequent unauthorized visits to Yala National Park. When Wild life officials attempted to curb Premadasa's visits the Wild Life the Wild Life Minister is reported to have intervened.

Another factor in Pilapitiya's decision to resign from his post is his insistence that Wild Life Conservation Department rangers have the power to produce suspects directly before the courts without handing them over to the police, this has reportedly been a matter of contention between the DG and the Minister for Wildlife.

However activists have criticized the minister for alleged interference.

"This is a clear example of interference on government officials. He is an officer who worked according to the law and procedures. The involvement of others is not a good sign. If an official does any wrong he should be dealt according to the stipulated laws.

If an official is discharging his duties rightly, no one should impose their will on him," Environment Lawyer and Activist Jagath Gunawardena said.

Good lesson

The Chairman of the Megapolis Project, Ajita De Costa, who also heads the Human Elephant Conflict Resolution Committee said:

"Dr. Pilapitiya is today in an absolutely unwarranted situation for no mistakes he had committed.This is a good lesson for everyone in this country. Officials of any department or institution should be allowed to do his duty freely without interference. If Dr. Pilapitiya has gone against or violated regulations he should be reprimanded. Instead he had tried to protect the government from going against regulations", de Costa said.

De Costa added that he would attempted convince Dr. Pilapitiya to withdraw his resignation.

Minister Sajith Premadasa refuted allegations of interference in the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Allegation

"I totally deny the allegation that I visited the Yala Sanctuary as alleged in violation of the established rules and regulations of the Wild Life Department.

The other allegation that I had appointed staff to the Wildlife Department according to my wishes is a total lie and I completely deny it," he said. He claimed it was his initiative to set up STF camps within the Yala sanctuary to coordinate with the Wild Life officials to put an end to animal killings and other unlawful activities.

"Where necessary I would intervene to regulate such activities in the national interest, Rather than exerting influence, I have not even spoken to the warden concerned.

These wild allegations are a despicable effort to besmirch my public image,"Premadasa claimed. .