All set for national tree planting program

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

All arrangements are in place for the National Tree Planting program Deyata Sevana on November 15, according to the Ministry of Environment.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has called upon all citizens to participate in the program by planting a tree in their home gardens to create a Sri Lanka covered in greenery.

The second phase of the Deyata Sevana tree planting campaign will be launched on November 15, under the Ministry of Environment.

The main event will be held at the land adjoining the Japan Friendship road near the Diyawanna Oya. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will plant the first tree sapling at the auspicious time of 9.01 am.

The Ministry plans to develop a green park on this land as instructed by President Rajapaksa. The Environment Ministry is carrying out construction work to convert the land in to a green park.

According to the Environment Ministry, Sri Lanka has a forest cover of nearly 30 percent.

The total canopy cover of the country is nearly 60 percent.

A percentage of the forest cover is shrub jungle and secondary forests as a result of forest clearing for chena cultivation and development work. "Now we have a task of replanting tree in those areas as well. He has directed the Department of Forest Conservation to pay more attention to those areas and launch replanting programs to restore the original forest cover," Minister Yapa said.