Management plan for Hanthana

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is to prepare a management plan for Hanthana to protect its rich biodiversity and promote the area as a tourist destination.

Hanthana, which is a mountain range close to Kandy city, is one of the water catchment areas of the Mahaweli River. Because of the hydrological importance of the area, it was declared the Hanthana Environmental Protective Area by the CEA on February 17, 2010.

Chairman CEA Charitha Herath said by preparing a management plan, the CEA hopes to protect Hanthana while utilising the resources in a sustainable manner, facilitating university students and other researchers and promoting it as a unique tourist destination.A special discussion was held with the Peradeniya University to get the support of its researchers to prepare the management plan.

Herath said the Hanthana Protective Area Academic Forum has been formed to get expert consultations on preparing the management plan.Prof. Nimal Gunathilaka of the Department of Botany, Prof. Kapila Dahanayake of the Department of Geology and other experts representing geology, civil engineering, zoology and botany are in the academic forum.

Herath said that measures and regulations were taken to control the development and conserve Hanthana. "The area above 3,000 feet is only allowed for forest plantations and to continue existing perennial crop cultivation.

The land lying between 2,500 feet and 3,000 feet will be for the people who already live in the area and environmental-friendly developments will be allowed in land below 2,000 feet. This will lead to controlled development", he said.

- SS