Protecting any forest
not only Wilpattu is easy when people are obedient.
The Presidential Media Unit states that President Sirisena
has directed to issue a gazette notification extending the land area of the
Wilpattu National Park & to enforce the law against persons who are
responsible for the forest destruction irrespective of their social status (source:
Sunday Times). There are those who point fingers at
Minister Rishad Bathiutheen for this deforestation (source: asiantribune).
When the SL armed forces were fighting the LTTE in the Eastern
province some referred to ‘Thoppigala’ in the East as a jungle. In the military
map ‘Thoppigala’ is referred to as ‘Barron’s cap’ according to them.
After the war ended they went to the Eastern province
& ordered Mahinda & Basil Rajapaksa & then minister Rishad
Bathiutheen in a vernacular language to ‘go away’ (Poda Mahinda, Poda Basil &
Poda Rishad…). It is not clear whether Rishad was asked to leave east because
he was clearing the Barron’s cap or any jungle in the East.
Mahinda must have obeyed the order (poda). He called for
an early Presidential Election & went home…
Basil must have obeyed order (poda) & advised to hold
the Presidential election. He went to the USA…
Rishad obeyed & went away to his native Mannar district…but
saved his Portfolio.
If
someone can go to Mannar district now & give another ‘poda’ order…
Rishad may stop clearing Wilpattu jungle & go somewhere
else. It may save public funds used to implement mechanisms to protect jungles.
How Mahinda & Basil would react is not clear & irrelevant.
What matters for the average citizen is to grow plants
which will provide them with food & Oxygen.
If not it will be a serious conflict in life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSncLaoZ5Co
© Dr. Samitha Hettige,
January 2017.
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