Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake has signed the gazette notification declaring 69 forests in 15 districts as forest reserves.
Accordingly, 40,761 hectares of forest areas in the districts of Monaragala, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Galle, Puttalam, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Mannar, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Kegalle, Kilinochchi, Badulla, Gampaha and Hambantota districts would be declared as forest reserves.
This also includes 47 hectares of 05 mangrove reserves in the Puttalam District.
Following the signing of the gazette notification, the document has been handed over to the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation.
All Ceylon Farmers' Federation to Rajapihilla
Meanwhile, the All Ceylon Farmers' Federation and civil society organisations have visited the Rajapihilla Park in Kurunegala to inquire into the recent felling of trees, which sparked public anger.
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has also instructed the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority to immediately submit a report on the removal of 28 ancient trees in the Rajapihilla Park.
Recently, representatives of the opposition too, had visited the location to inspect the destruction.
(Mirror)