PM to take decision over Dr. Pilapitiya's resignation

by Kishani Samaraweera

Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya's resignation as Director General at the Wildlife Conservation Department (WLCD) has not been accepted by the Ministry, Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera told the Sunday Observer.

The Minister said they were waiting for the Prime Minister's approval to reach a final decision on the matter. "I have not accepted his resignation. However, within the next week the issue has to be sorted," he said.

While several reasons have been attributed for Dr Pilapitiya's resignation, Minister Perera said that accusing Minister Sajith Premadasa for intrusion was baseless."There was no such issue. It is fabricated," he said. Several attempts by the Sunday Observer to contact the DG of Wildlife regarding the matter proved futile. Appointed as WLCD, DG in April, Dr Pilapitiya tendered his resignation after being in office for less than three months. It was reported that one of the deciding factors for the DG to resign was the release of some illegally detained elephants. He was the lead environmental specialist for the South Asia Environment, Water Resources and Climate Change Unit at the World Bank office.