Rape of State forests continues

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

During the past few years several State forest reserves in various parts of the island have been invaded by illicit timber fellers, and Ganja (Cannabis sativa) growers who cultivate forest land with the potent crop for profit.

Despite stiff jail sentences and heavy fines being imposed on suspects, they continue to fell trees in State forest reserves for profit. The rape of State forest land continues unabated with the support of some local politicians.

Last week, a monk and two members of the Civil Defence Force were arrested following the recovery of a large stockpile of timber planks along with illicitly felled trees. The detection was made by the OIC Morawewa Police at the Mahadivulwewa State forest reservation.

The three suspects were later produced in Court.In a dramatic incident last year, the OIC of the Buttala-Kataragama Road police post and nine other policemen were taken into custody for possessing 16 satin logs without a permit. Following the detection, Police launched an investigation to ascertain whether the OIC was involved with racketeers in felling tress in the area. In a similar incident at Maduru Oya in the Aralaganwila area, an Army lieutenant and four others were taken into custody by the military police for possessing 70 satin logs. The Military Police handed over the suspects to the Aralaganwila Police Station.